ABOUT THE PORTAL BACK GROUND ERS The Africa Portal backgrounder series offers brief background information and commentary on current policy issues of concern to Africans—especially in the areas of confict, energy, food security, health, migration and climate change. Written by seasoned, up-and-coming scholars on Africa, the backgrounders are published exclusively on the Africa Portal and are available for free, full-text download. The Africa Portal is an online knowledge resource for policy-related issues on Africa. www.africaportal.org AFRICAPORTAL a project of the africa initiative BACKGROUNDER UGANDA AND THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT: DEBATES AND DEVELOPMENTS CHRIS TENOVE BACKGROUND The ICC launched its investigations in Uganda in 2004, but to date there have been no arrests, trials or reparations. There have, however, been controversies. First, many argue that the ICC’s arrest warrants blocked a peace deal between the Ugandan government and the LRA, contributing to the ‘peace vs. justice’ debate. Second, critics argue that the ICC has been used as a tool by the SUMMARY • Uganda was the frst country targeted for intervention by the International Criminal Court (ICC). This intervention prompted three critical discussions about international criminal justice: ‘peace vs. justice,’ ‘selective justice,’ and ‘international vs. local justice’ • The ICC entered a second phase of operations in Uganda after peace talks failed between the government and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). With no arrests or new charges, the ICC faded from the headlines. ICC programs continued, however, including several signifcant support programs for victims of confict. • The ICC has now entered a third phase in Uganda, which requires it to wind down most operational activities and shift resources elsewhere, while at the same time remaining able to quickly ramp-up activities, should there be arrests. • To guide this third phase and to derive lessons to improve future ICC interventions, a better understanding of the ICC’s impact in Uganda to date is needed. This research must include the views and concerns of victims of confict. NO. 60 JULY 2013