The ICC, Uganda and the LRA: Re-Framing the Debate
Janine Natalya Clark
1.1 Background
Since 1986, there has been a brutal civil war in Uganda between the United People’s Defence Force
(UPDF) and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The conflict has been referred to as one of the
‘world's most neglected crises.
Ugandan division in colonial times Post-independence
● South (Bantu-speaking groups): ● Northern dominance continued under Milton
favoured politically and Obote and Idi Amin
economically ● In 1985, Acholi tribe overthrew Obote but was
● North (Nilotic-speaking groups): toppled a year later by Museveni (southern
regarded as labour reserves; had National Resistance Army)
military dominance ○ Museveni's forces committed revenge
attacks on northern Acholi, causing
displacement and rebel group formation
● Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) formed in 1988 by
Joseph Kony
○ Claims to fight for Acholi people but
targets them due to perceived betrayal
(massacres, child abductions, etc)
○ High rates of PTSD in Acholi regions
ICC and the impartiality concerns
● In December 2003, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni referred the LRA situation to the
ICC
● The ICC chief prosecutor issued arrest warrants for five LRA commanders
● The ICC's involvement criticised for undermining peace (ie using retributive justice) and
disregarding traditional justice (ie restorative justice)
○ ICC indicts only LRA leaders, ignoring UPDF crimes
○ Raises questions about ICC’s role in delivering justice and fostering peace
1.2 Peace vs. Justice
Justice as peace promoter Justice as impediment to peace
● Justice, truth-telling, and individual ● Critics (eg Refugee Law Project) argue
accountability can aid reconciliation peace must precede justice in Uganda
(Bassiouni 1996; Akhavan 1997) ● ICC indictments risk deterring LRA
leaders from peace negotiations.
● ICC’s involvement pressured LRA into
● Arrest warrants complicate Uganda’s
peace talks 2000 Amnesty Act
● Juba Peace Talks (2006) seen as a
promising development, partly due to
ICC arrest warrants
1
Janine Natalya Clark
1.1 Background
Since 1986, there has been a brutal civil war in Uganda between the United People’s Defence Force
(UPDF) and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The conflict has been referred to as one of the
‘world's most neglected crises.
Ugandan division in colonial times Post-independence
● South (Bantu-speaking groups): ● Northern dominance continued under Milton
favoured politically and Obote and Idi Amin
economically ● In 1985, Acholi tribe overthrew Obote but was
● North (Nilotic-speaking groups): toppled a year later by Museveni (southern
regarded as labour reserves; had National Resistance Army)
military dominance ○ Museveni's forces committed revenge
attacks on northern Acholi, causing
displacement and rebel group formation
● Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) formed in 1988 by
Joseph Kony
○ Claims to fight for Acholi people but
targets them due to perceived betrayal
(massacres, child abductions, etc)
○ High rates of PTSD in Acholi regions
ICC and the impartiality concerns
● In December 2003, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni referred the LRA situation to the
ICC
● The ICC chief prosecutor issued arrest warrants for five LRA commanders
● The ICC's involvement criticised for undermining peace (ie using retributive justice) and
disregarding traditional justice (ie restorative justice)
○ ICC indicts only LRA leaders, ignoring UPDF crimes
○ Raises questions about ICC’s role in delivering justice and fostering peace
1.2 Peace vs. Justice
Justice as peace promoter Justice as impediment to peace
● Justice, truth-telling, and individual ● Critics (eg Refugee Law Project) argue
accountability can aid reconciliation peace must precede justice in Uganda
(Bassiouni 1996; Akhavan 1997) ● ICC indictments risk deterring LRA
leaders from peace negotiations.
● ICC’s involvement pressured LRA into
● Arrest warrants complicate Uganda’s
peace talks 2000 Amnesty Act
● Juba Peace Talks (2006) seen as a
promising development, partly due to
ICC arrest warrants
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