By Steven Enatu
SOROTI CITY
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has commenced a massive victim identification and reparation exercise for individuals affected by the atrocities committed by former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Dominic Ongwen.
According to Jimmy Otim, the ICC Field Outreach Assistant for Uganda, the process targets both direct and indirect victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity for which Ongwen was convicted in 2021.
“The reparation will be for victims of the case of Dominic Ongwen that are located in northern and areas of Teso sub region Uganda,” said Otim during an engagement with stakeholders in Soroti City on Monday, 4th August 2025.
“This includes the victims of the Odek, Lukodi, Pajule, and Abok attacks, and also thematic crimes like child conscription and sexual violence committed within the Sinia Brigade.”
Ongwen is serving a 25-year prison sentence in Norway following his conviction on 61 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC reparation order, delivered on February 28, 2023, recognizes an estimated 49,772 victims who suffered between 1st July 2002 and 31st December 2005.
The ICC’s Victim Participation and Reparations Section (VPRS) has trained clerks across Acholi, Lango, Teso, and Madi subregions to conduct household-level registration of victims.
“People are not gathered in big numbers,” Otim explained.
“We work through local leaders and mobilizers to identify victims directly at household level.”
Each eligible victim, whether directly affected or a surviving family member, will receive a symbolic payment of €750 (approximately UGX 3.1 million). In addition to the individual cash awards, reparations will include livelihood support, psychosocial care, memorial activities, and monuments.
However, concerns have been raised about the sufficiency of the award.
Benson Ekwee Ochen, Executive Director of Public Affairs Centre Uganda, said the sum is “too small” in light of the intense suffering survivors endured, including the loss of limbs, ears, and family members.
Otim responded that the award is not compensation, but rather symbolic recognition.
“The question is not about the amount,” he noted. “It’s about acknowledgement. In DRC, some victims only received $200 — and here we are talking about nearly 50,000 victims. “He further warned communities to stay vigilant against fraud.
“The clerks are doing this free of cost. If anyone demands money or impersonates an ICC official, report them immediately to the authorities.”
