UGANDA

TJ MECHANISMS
impunity through mechanisms of punishment, truth-telling, answerability and reparations.
While ‘accountability’ is not defined under the Juba Agreement on Accountability
and Reconciliation, the section on accountability stipulates that; “Formal criminal and
civil justice measures shall be applied to any individual who is alleged to have committed
serious crimes or human rights violations in the course of the conflict. Provided that,
state actors shall be subjected to existing criminal justice processes and not to special
justice processes under this Agreement.” 500
Participants of the NRTJ Audit viewed accountability in a broad sense: notions of
confession, acknowledgement, acceptance of responsibility, apology, repentance,
asking for forgiveness, truth, fulfilment of promises and reparations all entered into the
discussions. Participants stated that the general lack of accountability is responsible for
grave feelings of bitterness in Uganda and instances of mob justice.
The Accountability Gap
In discussing the meaning and application of accountability as a justice mechanism,
participants in the NRTJ Audit throughout Uganda noted that
successive conflicts have
led to
numerous human rights violations, both
under all post-independence administrations, and during political transitions such
as the National Resistance Army’s own struggle for power. 501 To date, the majority of
perpetrators have not been held to account, and their victims continue to suffer from
500 Juba Agreement on Accountability and Reconciliation (2007), Clause 4.1
501 Research conducted in Nakasongola District
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