Transitional Justice Bill to reconcile turbulent past in Northern Uganda

In a historic move towards healing Uganda’s past wounds, Hon. Charles Onen, the Laroo – Pece Member of Parliament has introduced a private member’s Bill seeking to establish a national transitional justice system.

The motion was presented during the plenary sitting at the Kaunda Grounds in Gulu City on Thursday, 29 August 2024.
“Uganda has experienced cycles of violence, political instability, and gross human rights violations, particularly during the brutal regimes of Idi Amin and Milton Obote, and the protracted Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency in Northern Uganda,” Hon. Onen remarked while presenting his motion.

He emphasised the need for a comprehensive transitional justice system to ensure accountability, truth-telling, reparations, and reconciliation.

Hon. Onen acknowledged the efforts made by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government towards conflict resolution and maintaining peace and security, citing initiatives such as the Juba Peace Talks and the establishment of the International Crimes Division of the High Court.

However, he noted that more needs to be done to address historical wrongs and build a foundation for lasting peace.
“The different episodes of political instability have left deep scars on the nation’s fabric, arising from severe violence that has claimed countless lives through extra-judicial killings, forced disappearances, loss of property, and torture, perpetuating a legacy of fear, mistrust, and impunity,” he stated.

The proposed Transitional Justice Bill aims to operationalise the National Transitional Justice Policy of 2019. It will establish mechanisms to address past conflicts and human rights violations, promote accountability, facilitate reconciliation, and provide reparations and rehabilitation for victims of past injustices.

Additionally, a Special Court for War Crimes and Human Rights Violations will be set up to prosecute individuals responsible for such crimes.
“The objective of this bill is to heal the wounds of the past, establish accountability for past injustices, and build a foundation for lasting peace, justice, and reconciliation in Uganda,” Hon. Onen emphasised.

The motion was seconded by Hon. Moses Bitek, MP for Kioga County, who echoed the need for a legal framework to address the aftermath of Uganda’s conflicts.
In June 2019, Cabinet approved the transitional justice policy marking a huge step towards issues of justice and truth telling.

The Deputy Attorney General, Hon. Jackson Kafuuzi, informed the House that the transitional justice Bill is being worked on.
Efforts by Kafuuzi to stay the Bill since the Government was already processing it, were futile as the House thought it wise to have Onen proceed with his Bill following a delay by the Executive.

Kafuuzi had said that within three months if the Bill is not processed by the government, then the private member can be allowed to proceed. “We can consider his proposals and embed them with that of the Executive and have one good law,” he said

Hon. Onen was granted leave to introduce the Bill and the Government was granted a month to process the Bill.
The Speaker, Anita Among, who presided over the sitting, stated that the Transitional Justice Bill came as a petition from the people of Northern Uganda but also emphasised that the government was also processing the same Bill.

“Father Onen can be granted permission and they work together with the Government to work on the Bill,” Among guided.
Uganda faced numerous atrocities from 1962. However, even after the NRM/NRA took over power in 1986, Northern Uganda was tormented by the LRA and the Holy Spirit Movement, also a rebel outfit.