Gulu University opens transitional justice centre

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Gulu University has opened a one–stop centre for researchers in transitional justice and refugee studies.

Dubbed Centre for Excellence in Transitional Justice and Refugee Studies and housed at the university’s peace and strategic studies institute, the centre was officially launched on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, by head of the European Union (EU) delegation to Uganda, Jan Sadek.

Dr Stella Laloyo Apeco, the head of the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies of Gulu University, said they are a think–tank for transitional justice and refugee studies and that the centre documents and profiles research on transitional justice and refugee studies.

“First of all, this is a period where reparations are taking place and for the first time in the history of northern Uganda, our people will be recognised for the pain they went through, the suffering, and it is a process of healing. That is why I think that our centre for transitional justice will bring about all these voices, all the actors together and document the pain,” she explained.

European Union (EU) Ambassador to Uganda, Jan Sadek (in blue cap) poses for a photo with students and lecturers of Gulu University's institute of peace and strategic studies. (Photo by Jesse Johnson James)

Northern Uganda suffered a two–decade Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency, which claimed the lives of thousands of people, as thousands more were injured, abducted and displaced. To date, there is no concrete data on the conflict, including those killed, injured, abducted, or displaced.

According to Laloyo, the centre also provides a platform for research and study on transitional justice and refugee studies through graduate training.

“Gulu University surrounds about four or five refugee hosting districts, so the centre will also focus on refugee studies and profile what they are going through, the challenges and in the future, 10 years to come, 20 years to come, when a researcher comes (to the centre), they will always find space here to get the documents,” she said.

“We know that as Africans, we tell stories, but we don't write. But this centre is going to help to compile all the stories that are here and beyond northern Uganda, even in the diaspora, because some of the war victims are in the diaspora,” she added.

History lecturer Dr Agatha Alidri said the centre has been established under work package three of the Building Stronger Universities (BSU), which is a multifaceted programme aimed at strengthening research capacity at the university, with support from the Danish government.

According to her, the centre shall not only promote research on transitional justice, but also on the children born of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) war.

Sadek hailed Gulu University for the initiative, adding that the EU recognises the important work the university is doing in transitional justice.

He said the Building Stronger Universities (BSU) programme is a success, pointing to the centre for excellence in transitional justice and refugee studies, as one of its fruits.