The Rwenzori Forum For Peace and Justice (RFPJ) is advocating for the consideration and passing of the National Transitional Justice Law by the Parliament of Uganda, as a way of addressing the issues confronting victims of various conflicts and wars in Uganda.
In a one day advocacy training for the leaders of victim associations from the Rwenzori region, held on Tuesday this week at St.Joseph’s Inn Virika in Fort Portal City, advocates from RFPJ disclosed that the proposed Transitional Justice Law would help alleviate the aftermath of the atrocities faced by the victims.
Why the Law is timely
The Human Rights Officer RFPJ, Emmanuel Twesige, was confident that the law will ease the rehabilitation process and compensation of the very victims, create avenues for reconciliation and truth telling, strengthen the traditional justice mechanisms, and also help to prevent similar atrocities from happening in the country going forward.
Twesige, further disclosed that the NGO has pushed for a meeting by the victims through their leaders and the Ugandan Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Anita Among over the same matter, following a successful meeting with the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs July 2023.
He reiterated RFPJ’s commitment to advocating for peace and peaceful coexistence in communities and to amplifying the voices of victims for the attention of all stakeholders.
Twesige on the Law
Victims brace the law
The victims of land conflicts, rebel attacks, and geo-ethnic conflicts in the Rwenzori region have welcomed the new law proposal with hope of accessing government aid easily and making Transitional Justice more justiciable.
A one Edwig Mbabazi from Ntoroko, told jubilee Radio that the law could cater for their many outcries including health, lost property and education.
Edwig on Victims
Victims uncomfortable with the Luwero-Rwenzori triangle
The Victims, have further asked the government to separate them from the Luwero-Rwenzori triangle, saying that this wider structure has not yielded much to their outcries since it’s establishment, and the need to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into their communities to regain their normal lives.
