The Justice and Peace Commission is a Roman Catholic initiative for peace in Uganda. It was established in 1986 and has different Justice and Peace Commissions operating in different areas of the country.
JPC-Gulu
The Justice and Peace Commission, Archdiocese of Gulu (JPC–Gulu), began its work in 2001 during the height of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency, and the associated displacement of civilians into internally displaced persons camps. At that time the Catholic Church and Gulu Archdiocese were the loudest voices calling for the cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians, respect for human rights and dignity, and the pursuit of a peaceful end to the conflict.
The archbishop John Baptish Odama led several delegations of religious and cultural leaders into the jungles of northern Uganda to hold talks with the LRA and persuade them to pursue a non-violent end to the conflict; leading to the historic Juba peace process. JPC Gulu currently carries out community dialogue and reconciliation meetings, provides paralegal services, and promotes access to justice for the IDP population.
JPC implements programmes on peace education, good governance, human rights, democracy and civil participation, constitutionalism and the rule of law. JPC works closely with other peacebuilders and civil society organisations within the region and other JPC Archdioceses in Uganda.
JPC-Mbarara
The Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Mbarara (JPC–Mbarara) seeks to promote values based on the gospel of peace, love, truth, human dignity and the rule of law, amongst its congregation and other individuals and groups within the region. JPC envision a peaceful, just, harmonious and prosperous community of Gods people in Mbarara Archdiocese, irrespective of tribal and other differences.
JPC-Soroti
JPC-Soroti Archdiocese was established in 1981 with the mission to build a just and peaceful society based on Gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching through active participation of all people in Teso. Current programs include inter-communal peacebuilding in the Kumi, Soroti, Katakwi and Kaberemaido districts, among pastoral communities and cultivators.
