The Research

The Greater North of Uganda is home to hundreds of thousands of conflict-affected individuals who have suffered serious human rights violations as a result of the protracted conflict  between the Government of Uganda (GoU) and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Under international law and, to a lesser extent, the Ugandan constitution, persons who have suffered serious crimes and violations have a right to redress, remedy and reparation , and it is understood from recent studies that such people’s priorities cover a range of issues, including: physical and mental health services; education services; assistance to recover housing, land and inheritance; youth empowerment; public acknowledgement of harm and apologies; information on the ‘disappeared’; and proper treatment of the dead.

For persons who have suffered serious crimes and violations, reparation often requires an official acknowledgement of state responsibility (by commission or omission) for harms suffered . The process by which reparation is promoted, and how people are treated during processes of reparation, is of paramount importance.  Hence, in the eyes of those who have suffered serious crimes and violations, the legitimacy of the state is sharply in focus.

The SLRC Uganda research programme will focus on both: a) persons, households and communities who have suffered serious violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law; and b) broader conflict-affected households and their communities. The programme is based on three core research themes.

1. (Re)Building state-society relations through effective programming: how do war victims perceive the Ugandan state?
2. Informing engagement: mechanisms and arrangements for better service delivery in Northern Uganda
3. Tracking changes: What are the enabling and constraining factors that determine livelihood trajectories?

The Uganda Research Programme Leaflet

The Team

The Uganda research programme is being led by Feinstein International Center, based at Tufts University in Medford Massachusetts, in collaboration with ODI and two Ugandan partner organizations, the African Youth Initiative Network (AYINET) and the Women’s Rural Development Network (WORUDET).

Contact Us

For further information about the SLRC Uganda Research Programme, or to get hold of hard copies of any our publications please contact Rachel Gordon at: