Complementarity in Crisis: Uganda, alternative justice, and the international criminal court.

Source: (2009) Virginia Journal of International Law. 50(1): 107-162.

In recent years, the government of Uganda has been engaged in peace
talks with the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) to end the nation’s
devastating civil war. By most accounts, the talks have represented the
best chance yet to realize a conclusive end to the twenty-year conflict,
but negotiations have frequently stalled because of the still unresolved
question of accountability for serious crimes.’ In 2005, the International
Criminal Court (ICC or Court) issued arrest warrants for a handful of
LRA leaders accused of crimes against humanity and other grave offenses.
Although it was Uganda that initially referred the matter to the
ICC, the government later took the position that it would seek withdrawal
of the ICC warrants if the accused agreed to undergo a traditional
tribal justice ritual that requires a public confession and an apology
without threat of incarceration. More recent developments in Uganda
indicate a plan to supplement traditional justice with more formal court
proceedings for those accused of the most serious crimes. (Excerpt).