Lira, Uganda | The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed a reparations order of €52 million (approximately Shs226 billion) for eligible victims of atrocities committed during the insurgency by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda.
According to the Hague-based court, an estimated 49,722 victims stand to benefit through the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV), targeting both direct victims and those affected by broader categories of crimes.
The beneficiaries include survivors from four key locations—Abok Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Oyam District, Lukodi in Gulu, Odek in Omoro, and Pajule/Lapul in Kitgum—as well as victims of so-called “thematic crimes,” including forced recruitment of child soldiers and sexual slavery, some linked to the Sinai Brigade.
The reparations stem from the conviction of former LRA commander Dominic Ongwen, who was found guilty of 61 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Although ICC judges issued the reparations order in 2024, Ongwen was declared indigent, placing the responsibility of mobilising funds on the TFV with support from the international community.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement, Maria Mabinty Kamara, the ICC’s Public Information and Outreach Coordinator in Uganda, cautioned communities against attempting to manipulate the compensation process.
“Whenever there is a process involving benefits, some people attempt to manipulate it. We have put safeguards in place to detect and prevent such actions,” she said.
Kamara revealed that the TFV is establishing victims’ participatory committees within affected communities to act as watchdogs and ensure that only eligible individuals benefit.
The committees will also serve as channels for reporting complaints and concerns.
“We are not permanently based in these communities. We come on missions for short periods, so we rely on local structures and partners to monitor the process,” she added.
So far, more than 19,500 victims have been supported to complete application forms.
However, only about 500 cases have been fully verified, reflecting the stringent process of linking individual claims to specific crimes under Ongwen’s case.
The process is being facilitated by 32 clerks and over 50 intermediaries operating across 19 districts, working closely with the ICC’s Victims Participation and Reparations Section (VPRS).
Kamara emphasised the need for vigilance among stakeholders: “We all have a role to monitor and report any irregularities to ensure that the right people benefit.”
The ICC also provided updates on ongoing judicial processes, including matters relating to fugitive LRA leader Joseph Kony, noting that the court’s work in northern Uganda has entered a critical phase focused on restorative justice following the Ongwen judgment.
However, stakeholders raised concerns over the scope and impact of the reparations programme.
Dr Laury Ocen, a senior lecturer at Lira University, questioned the relatively small number of beneficiaries compared to the widespread suffering experienced during the conflict.
He noted that while Ongwen is serving his sentence abroad, many victims continue to face hardship.
Margaret Akullo Elem called for the integration of traditional justice mechanisms, arguing that the ICC process alone may not fully address the needs of all victims.
She further observed that of the five LRA commanders initially indicted, three have since died, potentially limiting access to justice and reparations.
Clan leader Patrick Abal highlighted the war’s long-term environmental and cultural effects, citing land degradation caused by IDP camps and the presence of mass graves.
He added that some communities, including those in Lango with over 5,500 registered victims, feel excluded from the current reparations framework.
Abal urged the ICC to broaden its approach to include environmental damage and the erosion of cultural institutions as part of the reparations agenda.
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