NAME OF MECHANISM

Amnesty Commission

PERIOD OF OPERATION

January 2000 – present

MANDATE AND OPERATIONS

Mandate: The Ugandan government established the Amnesty Commission in January 2000. The commission’s duration has been repeatedly extended. Amnesty applies for actions taken since 26 January 1986 and may be granted to any person over the age of 12 who was in captivity or combat for at least four months.

The commission is responsible for educating the public about the Amnesty Act of 2000; promoting dialogue and reconciliation; demobilising combatants and processing amnesty applications; providing reinsertion support, including providing resettlement packages for former combatants; and the longer-term social and economic reintegration of former combatants.

Structure: One chairperson, six commissioners and other staff as necessary, including a Demobilisation and Resettlement Team, all Ugandan.

Budget: In January 2005, the Amnesty Commission received US$4.2 million from the World Bank’s Multi-Country Demobilization and Reintegration Programme. In January 2008, at the request of the Ugandan government, the World Bank established a multi-donor trust fund with a projected budget of US$8.2 million to support follow-up disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programmes for former rebels. The commission has also received funding from international donors and government agencies [UNDDR | Dec 2006].

RESOURCES

Amnesty Act [2000]
Ugandan Ministry of Internal Affairs official website: Amnesty Commission
World Bank Multi-Country Demobilization and Reintegration Programme: Uganda

RESULTS

Between 2003 and the end of 2008, 22,930 ex-combatants were reportedly granted amnesty by the commission [New Vision | 8 Dec 2008]. By July 2010, the number of applicants was about 25,000, with former LRA members representing the largest group [Daily Monitor | 19 Jul 2010].

In May 2009, the commission’s chairman, Justice Peter Onega, called for reparations to be provided to victims of the LRA in northern Uganda, arguing that reparations would balance the benefits provided to ex-combatants and help bring peace to the area [UG Pulse| 10 May 2009].

In April 2010, Justice Onega complained that the commission was underfunded and unable to provide necessary assistance, such as sensitising communities into which ex-combatants are being reintegrated [New Vision | 25 Apr 2010].

BACKGROUND

The National Resistance Movement was one of many rebel groups operating in Uganda when it rose to power in 1986. It continues to face opposition from a number of armed groups.

SOURCES

[Daily Monitor | 19 Jul 2010] 
[New Vision | 8 Dec 2008] 
[New Vision | 25 Apr 2010] 
[UG Pulse | 10 May 2009]
[United Nations Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Resource Centre | Dec 2006]