ICC: Uganda

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni referred the 18-year-old conflict to the ICC in December 2003, marking the first time an ICC member country sent a situation to the Court. After considering the evidence, on July 29, 2004, ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo announced the launch of a formal investigation into the ongoing human rights violations in Uganda.

The war in northern Uganda has devastated the civilian population, killing tens of thousands and displacing an estimated one and a half million more. The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has been accused of abducting more than 30,000 children and forcing them to fight, carry out hard labor, and serve as sex slaves to commanders. Both the LRA and the Ugandan army have been accused of committing human rights violations.

The ICC has jurisdiction over crimes committed after July 1, 2002, on Ugandan territory. It will investigate and indict those most responsible for the planning and commission of the atrocities. Because the ICC will try only the most serious criminals, many people who have committed acts that could be considered crimes will not be investigated by the ICC. The ICC will work with national authorities to implement local justice and reconciliation efforts for those who the Court will not indict.

Court Action

On July 8, 2005, the Court issued arrest warrants for Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo, and Dominic Ongwen of the LRA. They represent the alleged Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Chairman, Deputy Army Commander, and Brigade Commander, respectively. As of today, they all remain at large. A fifth member of the LRA originally indicted, Deputy Army Commander Raska Lukwiya, is now deceased.

Resources:

• Report: In Uncharted Waters (CGS) 
• Press release on the launch of the Ugandan investigation (CGS) 
• Newsletter article on the ICC in Uganda and the DRC (CGS) PDF
• Online book about human rights atrocities in Uganda (UN) 
• Report about the abductions and abuses in Northern Uganda (HRW)