The impact of internal conflict on customary institutions and law: the case of Uganda

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Periodical article

Title:	The impact of internal conflict on customary institutions and law: the case of Uganda
Author:	Quinn, Joanna R.
Year:	2015
Periodical:	Journal of African Law (ISSN 1464-3731)
Volume:	59
Issue:	2
Pages:	220-236
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Uganda
Subjects:	political conflicts conflict resolution transitional justice customary courts customary law
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021855315000042
Abstract:	Customary institutions are used successfully in some Ugandan communities, but not in others. There may be several explanations for this. First, the nature of social institutions clearly changes over time; it is likely that the utility of traditional practices has also changed accordingly. Secondly, the presence of protracted civil conflict in various parts of the country has altered the manner in which people are able to live and deal with conflict. Thirdly, the scope of conflict may have caused traditions to become dislocated or modified beyond any recognizable or useful form, which may have caused traditional mechanisms to become less useful or entirely obsolete. Fourthly, societies in Uganda are stratified very differently; this organization has had a major role to play in whether and how such mechanisms are used. Fifthly, the homogeneity of the population could be a key factor in whether, and whose, 'traditions' are used in a given community. Notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]