Gulu, Uganda – The International Criminal Court (ICC) will commence the registration of potential victims of former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Dominic Ongwen in two weeks, marking a significant step in the reparations process for survivors of LRA atrocities.
Speaking to journalists in Gulu via Zoom on Tuesday, Maria Mabinty Kamara, the ICC Outreach Officer and Spokesperson for Uganda, confirmed the development. This follows the Appeals Chamber’s recent decision to uphold the reparations order granted by the trial chamber to Ongwen’s victims.
The upcoming registration exercise marks the first phase of a pilot process aimed at identifying and documenting potential victims. Kamara said the ICC has trained at least 30 clerks, including victims, leaders of victims’ associations, and former camp leaders, who are well-positioned to assist in vetting and identifying eligible individuals.
“These individuals are better placed to a large extent to vet or identify persons who potentially might be victims,” Kamara noted.
She emphasized that the clerks’ responsibilities are limited to identifying, registering, and documenting potential victims. A separate ICC team will handle the verification and eligibility assessments.
The Victims Participation and Reparations Section (VPRS), which is overseeing the process, was initially given a two-year timeline to validate the victims. However, Kamara revealed that one year had already passed before registration could begin due to the time taken in establishing operational structures, recruiting personnel, and conducting consultations. The VPRS is expected to request an extension to complete the process.
Kamara acknowledged that the timeframe for completing registration remains uncertain, citing similar experiences in other countries.
“I believe along the line, depending on the experiences, the practical realities that are met on the ground, there might be a possibility of retweaking the strategy, increasing the numbers, or changing the strategy in such a way that a lot more people will be involved in the process,” she said.
The ICC estimates that 49,772 individuals could be eligible for reparations across four case locations: Lukodi in Gulu district, Pajule in Pader district, Odek in Omoro district, and Abok in Oyam district.
On February 28, 2024, the ICC Trial Chamber IX ordered Ongwen to pay 52.4 million euros (about UGX 213 billion) in reparations to his victims. However, the chamber noted Ongwen’s inability to pay and tasked the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) with complementing the reparations through additional fundraising.
Kamara admitted that the TFV does not currently have the full amount but is actively engaged in mobilizing resources.
“To tell you the truth, you cannot say the money is in there right now. But a lot of fundraising is happening, and the trust fund is also very committed to pushing these initiatives,” she said.
The registration exercise is expected to be a pivotal moment for thousands of survivors still grappling with the impact of the LRA’s brutal campaigns.
