Whose Justice - The Dilemma in Resolving the Conflict in Northern Uganda 2005-2015.

Abstract

The effect of the Kony war to Uganda as a whole and specifically to Northern Uganda has been not only dehumanizing but devastating as well. After decades of conflict and violation of human rights , questions of justice, reconciliation, and post-conflict reconstruction are crucial to attempts to build a society that is at peace with its neighbors and prosperous. Several attempts to resolve the war peacefully have failed. In the context of these failed initiatives this work discusses whether international law, local conflict resolution processes or a mixture of the two should be used to resolve the conflict. Key stakeholders such as Uganda Government, the Cultural leaders and the ICC have held different approaches at different times, further complicating the issue. In doing so, this work illustrates the real decisions and dilemmas facing Acholi land, a community that is moving from pangs of conflict to a peaceful community, it further illustrates the incorrect contradictions and the flawed Peace against Justice Discourse. In the complexity of these attempted negotiated resolution, this work brings forth the voices of the Acholi people who in their opinion Justice can only be achieved through traditional justice mechanism, a mechanism that is entranced in the fabric of their society. Acholi had their own home-grown approaches to resolving inter-personal conflicts. These approach are still relevant. This works show that these systems served the society well and were responsible in maintaining peace and tranquility within and outside the society. This work argues that, given that the systems worked in the past, it is important to scrutinize what made them work and what can possibly be learnt in the way they were operationalized. By posing the question, whose justice is being sought? This work amplifies the voices of the Acholi with regards to the pertinent and sensitive issue of whose justice is being sought in the quest to end the conflict.