Justice during the War with the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda

In February 2021, Dominic Ongwen, a former commander with the Lord’s Resistance Army, was found guilty of war crimes by the International Criminal Court despite his potential eligibility for amnesty under the Ugandan National Amnesty Act. This brief presents new research to address the relationship between the justice strategies employed by the Government of Uganda during the civil war with the Lord’s Resistance Army, such as the 2000 Amnesty Act, and contemporary transitional justice efforts. Through the Uganda case, this brief explores the impacts of accountability and reconciliation strategies adopted during armed conflict on the potential for lasting peace. The study is based on a research collaboration between the Foundation for Justice and Development Initiatives (FJDI) in Gulu, Uganda and PRIO.