UGANDA

TJ MECHANISMS
past harms could be acknowledged and forgiveness solicited. 552 Compensation for losses
and the restitution of looted property were also regarded as conducive to reconciliation. 553
Similarly, psychosocial support for the parties involved in the conflict was seen as
necessary. 554 Some argued that Amnesty could create a foundation for reconciliation
insofar as it draws people out of the bush and fosters a broader reconciliatory state of
mind. 555 Others, however, saw the Amnesty Act as a top-down approach to reconciliation
which did not include the voices of victimized communities. 556 Still others emphasized
the importance of implementable and concrete ideas, like power sharing, for furthering
reconciliation. 557
Truth-telling processes were also mentioned, and some participants argued for a
Truth and Reconciliation Commission on a national level, inspired by the South African
precedent. 558 Civil society representatives from northern Uganda clarified that such a
commission should be created by an Act of Parliament and be composed of eminent
persons rather than political appointees. 559 In a similar vein, some participants suggested
an institutionalized reconciliation team composed of religious leaders, elders, traditional
leaders, civil society members, and Government representatives. 560 Moreover, certain
initiatives that have already demonstrated a potential to foster reconciliation between
victims and perpetrators should be encouraged. These include inter-marriages, exchange
visits, dialogues, mediation efforts and trade between affected communities. 561 These
are hampered, however, by the continuation of conflicts and the absence of genuine
and sustained Government support, and as a result such approaches require more
commitment if they are to attain their potential. 562
Other ideas included perpetrators’ contributions toward burial ceremonies, 563 the use
of a national language such as English or Kiswahili to facilitate greater unity, 564 and more
emphasis on bridging persistent economic gaps. 565
Finally, participants stressed the importance of documenting, disseminating and
commemorating on-going and successful reconciliation initiatives in different parts of
the country. 566 For instance, in Adjumani, the participants attributed the cyclical nature
of violence to a failure to transmit messages of reconciliation to younger generations.
They regretted that a certain spear used for gomo tong, or the bending of the spear
peace-making ceremony amongst the Acholi and Lugbara-Kakwa, was lost and noted
that it was a “misfortune and a sign that the two communities shall continue fighting
552 Research conducted in Gulu and Mukono District
553 Research conducted in Mukono and Kitgum Districts
554 Research conducted in Mukono District
555 Research conducted in Gulu District
556 Research conducted in Tororo District
557 Research conducted in Arua and Pader District
558 Research conducted in Gulu and Nakapiripirit Districts
559 Minutes from NRTJ Audit Validation Workshop, 28 August 2012
560 Research conducted in Hoima and Mukono Districts
561 Research conducted in Kasese, Tororo and Soroti Districts
562 Research conducted in Soroti District
563 Research conducted in Mukono District
564 Research conducted in Pader District
565 Research conducted in Arua District
566 Research conducted in Adjumani District
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