UGANDA

TJ MECHANISMS
therapeutic services for victims of amputation and bodily mutilation, as well as medical
programmes for victims of rape must be created. 734
“Reparations is a process of rehabilitating communities that were affected
and effecting the circumstances…Once there is development of [social
structures] to rehabilitate them, there is healing the minds of people,
socially and economically.”
Civil Society Representative from Nakasongola
NRTJ Audit Validation Workshop, 28 August 2012
Satisfaction
In addition to material forms of reparation, the majority of participants also acknowledged
the importance of symbolic measures. They called for memorial sites, decent burials,
apologies and acknowledgement of their suffering. 735 Participants from Hoima expressed
their desire for the establishment of a memorial hospital. 736 Specifically with regard to
memorials, participants were emphatic that they should be community-driven. 737
Design and Implementation of a Reparations Framework
Participants also expressed views on the process of designing and implementing
a comprehensive reparations programme. They regarded community outreach
as a fundamental but currently overlooked component of current approaches to
reparations. 738 Victims must be sensitized to the reparations process and should be
consulted to ensure its adequacy. 739 Before starting any reparations programme, many
participants stated that a mapping exercise should take place. Wrongs and damages must
be investigated, victims identified, and their perspectives sought in order to facilitate
the process. 740 While some believed reparations should be proportional to the harm
suffered, others called for a standardized process. 741 In terms of the structures which are
to be used, some participants said that existing Local Councils could be mobilized and
that the process should be decentralised at the regional level. 742
Others also called for the establishment of an independent body both to register victims
and provide reparations for conflict-related abuses. 743 Participants were adamant
that reparations be granted immediately to suffering victims and should precede the
conclusion of judicial processes or truth-telling initiatives. 744 Finally, participants agreed
that a policy and legislative framework on reparations should be established by the
Government in order to facilitate post-conflict recovery.
734 Research conducted in Arua District
735 Research conducted in Gulu, Mubende, Hoima and Nakasongola Districts
736 Research conducted in Hoima District
737 Research conducted in Gulu District
738 Research conducted in Adjumani District
739 Research conducted in Mubende and Mukono Districts
740 Research conducted in Mubende, Mbarara and Mukono Districts
741 Research conducted in Mukono District
742 Research conducted in Mukono District
743 Research conducted in Pader District
744 Research conducted in Arua District
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