The betrayed: An exploration of the Acholi opinion of the International Criminal Court

Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army continues to wage guerrilla war against the government of Uganda, led by President Yoweri Museveni. Between these two parties---mistreated by both, and friend to neither---is the Acholi ethnic group. Recently, the International Criminal Court was asked to investigate the situation in northern Uganda by President Museveni. This invitation raises international awareness of the human rights violations suffered by the Acholi. However, the Acholi view the Court with skepticism. This field-work based study examines the Acholi perspective and finds a pre-formed expectation of betrayal influencing the Acholi opinions of the conflict and the Court's intervention. Should the Court's outreach fail to address the Acholi expectation of betrayal, its long-term work could be greatly hindered. For the ICC and other human rights institutions to be effective in northern Uganda, it is imperative to consider the Acholi perspectives and assume the lens of those in need.