African countries have a wealth of experience in implementing truth commissions and adapting them to their national contexts, spanning several decades. As noted in the 2019 African Union Transitional Justice Policy, truth commissions are an indicative element of transitional justice. They are “legal bodies established to examine and address violations and abuses. They also serve to establish a full historical record of such violations, including the various experiences of different groups such as women, children and youth, the identity of the victims and perpetrators, as well as the role of various State and non-State institutions, and to provide for measures of reconciliation and healing.”
For each truth commission, when available, this database includes the commission’s mandate, method and year of establishment, period active and final report. It also includes the conflict period as defined in the mandate and the peace agreement that gave rise to the commission. The database was updated in 2023.
Uganda
Commission of Inquiry into the Disappearances of Persons in Uganda
The Commission of Inquiry into the Disappearances of People was a targeted inquiry into alleged disappearances in Uganda following a military take-over in 1971. The commission was tasked with investigating the circumstances of disappearances, locating the persons or organisations responsible, and determining whether those who disappeared were alive or dead. It was also tasked with delivering recommendations for how the government should address and put an end to disappearances and how to assist the families of those who disappeared. The report was presented to Idi Amin, the president, but not publicly released.
| Established | Conflict Period |
Mandate | Final Report | Peace Agreement |
| 1974, by presidential decree | 1971-1974 | Legal Notice No. 2 of 1974 |
1974 Final Report Part I; Part II; Part III; Part IV; Part V |
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Commission of Inquiry into Violations of Human Rights
The Commission of Inquiry into Violations of Human Rights (1986-1995) was established in 1986 to investigate human rights abuses committed from October 1962 to January 1986. The commission’s mandate included investigating mass murders, arbitrary deprivation of human rights, arbitrary arrests and detentions without trial, as well as mistreatment of citizens by law enforcement, the reasoning behind the large-scale displacement of Ugandan citizens and subsequent disappearance of some, and discrimination based on race, tribe, place of origin, political opinion, religion or sex.
| Established | Conflict Period |
Mandate | Final Report | Peace Agreement |
| 1986, by legislation | 1962-1986 | Commission of Inquiry Act Legal Notice No. 5 of 16 May 1986 |
Published but unavailable |
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