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Following a 10-day visit to northern Uganda, ICC lawyers revealed they have gathered substantial evidence from victims and former crime scenes
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By Our Reporter
The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecution team has announced a significant breakthrough in its case against Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Following a 10-day visit to northern Uganda, ICC lawyers revealed they have gathered substantial evidence from victims and former crime scenes.
Speaking at a media engagement at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Thursday, Leoni von Bruan, a senior trial lawyer in Kony’s case, described the trip as transformative.
“We visited former crime sites, including internally displaced persons’ camps and affected schools. Engaging with the victim communities was invaluable. Their input has fortified our case against Kony,” Bruan said.
Kony faces charges at the ICC for the abduction of 140 girls from Lwala Secondary School in Kaberamaido district and a litany of other crimes, including child abduction, enslavement, severe mistreatment, and forced conscription.
Charges to be confirmed in 2025
The ICC recently authorized proceedings against Kony in absentia, with the confirmation of charges scheduled for next year. Kony is represented by lawyer Peter Haynes. Sant-Anna Dahirou, international cooperation advisor at the ICC, highlighted the significance of holding proceedings in Uganda to build trust with victims.
“The confirmation of charges is not a trial. It is a procedural step to determine if the evidence we’ve presented is sufficient to commit him for trial. The trial can only proceed if Kony is arrested or surrenders,” Dahirou explained.
Kony reportedly acknowledged the ICC proceedings in a past BBC interview, providing grounds for the court to proceed in his absence.
Focus of the charges
The charges against Kony primarily focus on seven attacks on camps in Barlonyo, Abia, Pagak, Pajule, Lukodi, Abok, and Odek in the districts of Lira, Amuru, Pader, Gulu, and Omoro.
The charges include: Forced labor, Sexual exploitation and rape, Forced marriages, Abduction of women and children and Recruitment of child soldiers. Bruan emphasized that Kony is the first ICC suspect to face charges for crimes committed against children born in captivity, setting a legal precedent.
Punishments and bounty
Each offence carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, although aggravating factors could result in life imprisonment. Dahirou confirmed that if Kony remains at large or dies, the trial will be terminated.
To aid in Kony’s capture, a $5 million (sh18.4 billion) bounty remains in place for credible information on his whereabouts.
Historical context
Kony, born in 1961 in Odek sub-county, Omoro district, founded the LRA in 1987. He waged a brutal insurgency against the Ugandan government for over two decades, operating in northern Uganda, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic.
The Ugandan and US militaries pursued Kony until 2017, when the mission was suspended.
The ICC has already convicted senior LRA commanders. In 2021, Dominic Ongwen was sentenced to 25 years, and in August 2024, Thomas Kwoyelo received a 40-year sentence.
Despite past suggestions to subject Kony to mato-oput, a traditional Acholi justice system, the ICC trial remains the preferred approach.
“We are working with regional partners and remain optimistic about Kony’s arrest,” Bruan added.
This renewed commitment to justice offers hope to survivors and communities affected by Kony's atrocities.
Torch Media Africa
