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The government, civil society organizations, and religious leaders in Uganda have expressed their approval of the ruling by the International Criminal Court (ICC) awarding over Shs222.3 billion in reparations to victims of war under the command of rebel leader Dominic Ongwen in northern Uganda.
Margaret Ajoj, the Technical Advisor for Transitional Justice at the Ministry of Justice, hailed the decision as positive for both the 49,772 war victims and the government. She emphasized the importance of Uganda contributing to the Trust Fund for Victims, as urged by the ICC, given that Uganda is a state party to the Rome Statute.
Ajoj stressed that while the reparations would only cover victims of Ongwen’s atrocities, the government is developing a Transitional Policy to address the needs of other war victims not included in this specific ICC award.
Sarah Kasande, representing civil society through the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) Uganda, welcomed the ruling, considering it a crucial step towards the healing and recovery of the war victims after enduring decades of suffering.
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Kasande acknowledged the significant challenge of mobilizing resources to fulfill the 52 million Euros award. She emphasized the reliance of the Trust Fund for Victims on donations from various sources and highlighted the importance of a robust fundraising process to meet the needs of the victims.
Anthony Akol, chairman of the Acholi Parliamentary Group, called for a thorough analysis of the impact of the Kony war on northern Uganda’s people to determine appropriate compensation.
Retired Northern Uganda Diocese bishop Nelson Onono Onweng welcomed the ruling as a delivery of justice but raised concerns about the immediate availability of the awarded funds and emphasized the symbolic nature of the payments.
Betty Lalam, proprietor of the Gulu War Affected Training Centre, hailed the ruling as great news for the victims but expressed reservations about their financial literacy in effectively utilizing the awarded funds.
Overall, the ruling by the ICC has been met with positive reception in Uganda, signaling a significant step towards addressing the plight of war victims and acknowledging their suffering.
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