Gulu-Uganda
As the date for confirmation of charges hearing against the Lord's Resistance Army(LRA) leader, Joseph Kony who is charged with 36 counts of War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity in the 8 IDP camps of Lokole, Odek, Abok, Pajule, Abiya, Barlonyo, Pagak and Lwala school girls abduction during the LRA war in Northern Uganda.
During the stakeholder dialogue held on 6th January, 2025 at Churchill Courts in Gulu City that comprised; Local, cultural and religious leaders; Civil Society, Lawyers, Academia, Women, Youth etc, the team from ICC headed by counsel Maria Kamara Mabinty stated that, the objective of the dialogue was about Joseph Kony and notifications effort where, the judge extended the responsibility accorded to stakeholders who are so influential in the community to use their respective platforms and networks to inform Joseph Kony about the confirmation of charges hearing against him due on 9th September, 2025.
Maria Kamara Mabinty further higlighted the use of other strategies like; Media, Community outreaches, Radio stations, Newspapers etc to notify Joseph Kony.
In addition, the ICC team stated that, the decision issued by ICC to have the confirmation of charges hearing to be commencd on 9th September, 2025 was based on the following;
1.That Joseph Kony is a person who cannot be found within Article 61 of the Rome Statue
2.That all reasonable steps to get him have been explored.
3.That there is a legal basis to hold the confirmation of hearing of charges which is *not a trial* but a *pre-trial* aimed at assessing the evidence to determine the sufficient evidence to establish grounds that a person (Joseph Kony) committed the crimes in his absence.
Counsel Maria Kamara Mabinty reminded stakeholders that, both defense and prosecution are pushing for the confirmation of charges hearing to happen in Uganda to enable victims' meaningful participation in the process. She added that, it is a short process that could be less than 3 days and that the judges are yet to determine whether it will happen in Gulu or Lira. Where, the ICC Registry will start a Preliminary Assessment to determine the Feasibility, ie security, logistics, Physical structures, opportunities, challenges etc to determine whether or not the confirmation of Charges hearing can be held in Uganda.
However, some stakeholders raised their concerns of the possibility of threats to their security and possibility of Joseph Kony returning for another phase 2 of the war since he cannot be found.While others argued that, if Dominic Ogwen was tried in Hague, Joseph Kony who was at the rank of a Commander should also be tried in Hague.As the date for confirmation of charges hearing against the Lord's Resistance Army(LRA) leader, Joseph Kony who is charged with 36 counts of War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity in the 8 IDP camps of Lokole, Odek, Abok, Pajule, Abiya, Barlonyo, Pagak and Lwala school girls abduction during the LRA war in Northern Uganda.
During the stakeholder dialogue held on 6th January, 2025 at Churchill Courts in Gulu City that comprised; Local, cultural and religious leaders; Civil Society, Lawyers, Academia, Women, Youth etc, the team from ICC headed by counsel Maria Kamara Mabinty stated that, the objective of the dialogue was about Joseph Kony and notifications effort where, the judge extended the responsibility accorded to stakeholders who are so influential in the community to use their respective platforms and networks to inform Joseph Kony about the confirmation of charges hearing against him due on 9th September, 2025.
Maria Kamara Mabinty further higlighted the use of other strategies like; Media, Community outreaches, Radio stations, Newspapers etc to notify Joseph Kony.
In addition, the ICC team stated that, the decision issued by ICC to have the confirmation of charges hearing to be commencd on 9th September, 2025 was based on the following;
1.That Joseph Kony is a person who cannot be found within Article 61 of the Rome Statue
2.That all reasonable steps to get him have been explored.
3.That there is a legal basis to hold the confirmation of hearing of charges which is *not a trial* but a *pre-trial* aimed at assessing the evidence to determine the sufficient evidence to establish grounds that a person (Joseph Kony) committed the crimes in his absence.
Counsel Maria Kamara Mabinty reminded stakeholders that, both defense and prosecution are pushing for the confirmation of charges hearing to happen in Uganda to enable victims' meaningful participation in the process. She added that, it is a short process that could be less than 3 days and that the judges are yet to determine whether it will happen in Gulu or Lira. Where, the ICC Registry will start a Preliminary Assessment to determine the Feasibility, ie security, logistics, Physical structures, opportunities, challenges etc to determine whether or not the confirmation of Charges hearing can be held in Uganda.
However, some stakeholders raised their concerns of the possibility of threats to their security and possibility of Joseph Kony returning for another phase 2 of the war since he cannot be found.While others argued that, if Dominic Ogwen was tried in Hague, Joseph Kony who was at the rank of a Commander should also be tried in Hague.
Author:
Counsel Stella Kijange Lajiri
Lawyer and Minister of Gender, Youth and Culture.
Ker Kwaro Acholi Chiefdom
