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On 23 May 2012, Uganda’s Minister of Internal Affairs declared the lapse of the Amnesty Act. This decision was apparently taken without any reference to Uganda’s Parliament.

Meeting in Kampala on 12 June, a network of religious, traditional, civil society and other organisations – from within and outside Uganda, including neighbouring countries – reviewed the decision and issued this communiqué and accompanying note.

Uganda’s amnesty law has already made an immense contribution to the cause of stability and recovery [...] Whilst improvements can be made in its implementation, this Act needs to remain available as a successful example of African approaches to addressing conflict.

Extract - The Fairway Communiqué: Accompanying Note

Endorsed by 19 organisations, the documents advocate that the Amnesty Act has a crucial role to play in efforts to build peace in the region and that there is an urgent need for its reinstatement.

The decision to remove the amnesty provisions in Uganda is premature and legally unnecessary, and will set back the cause of peace, reconciliation and accountability not only for Uganda but neighbouring countries.

Extract - The Fairway Communiqué: Accompanying Note

The Communiqué and its Accompanying Note are endorsed by the following 19 organisations:

  • Ker Kwaro Acholi (KKA)
  • Acholi Religious Leader’s Peace Initiative (ARLPI)
  • Amnesty Commission (AC)
  • Gulu District Reconciliation & Peace Team (DRPT)
  • Invisible Children
  • Justice and Peace Commission – Gulu (JPC)
  • Gulu District NGO Forum
  • Human Rights Focus
  • Justice and Reconciliation Project (JRP)
  • Enough Project
  • Conciliation Resources
  • Concerned Parents Association (CPA)
  • Uganda Historical Memory and Reconciliation Council
  • Refugee Law Project
  • Lugbara Kari
  • Iteso Cultural Union
  • Lango Cultural Union
  • JUPEDEC (Jeunesse Uni pour la Protection de l’Environment et le developpement Communautaire) – Central Africa Republic
  • Totto Chan – South Sudan
  • The Interchurch Commission – for Western Equatoria State, South Sudan.
  • SAIPD – Solidarite Assistance Integrale aux Personnes Demunies, DRC
  • CDJPR – ARU, Commission Diocesaine de Justice Paix et Reconciliation, DRC

Interested to learn more?