The Prosecutors of International Criminal Court (ICC) have assured Ugandans especially the victims in the areas which were destabilized by Lord Resistance Army (LRA) under the command of Joseph Kony.
On addressing the press in Kampala the team of prosecutors currently in Uganda, Dahirou Santana, the international cooperation advisor in the office of the ICC chief prosecutor noted that preparations to have the confirmation of charges against Kony before the ICC are in final stages.
“The confirmation of charges was supposed to take place on 15th October 2024 , but later things changed. New judges were assigned to hear the case , and they have decided that the hearing will take place in due course , we hope that it will happen in 2025.” Said Dahirou
He also clarified that confirmation of charges process is not a trial as many may take it , emphasizing that the trial will only happen after Joseph Kony has been arrested and brought in court.
“We the prosecution have made a request to the judges of ICC to consider that confirmation hearing in absensure in Uganda coz we believe ist good for hearing to take place close the people from the affected communities.” He added
Ms Leonie van Braun a senior Prosecutor at ICC revealed that for the last few days they have gathered a lot of credible information (evidence) from victims of LRA in Northern Uganda which she believes that they will be so crucial in proving a case against Kony.
“The victims freely spoke to us , told us what happened to them during the LRA days and they have asked us to do something about it.”
That unlike the Dominic Ongwen case whose trial was held in Hague , confirmation of Kony’s charges is most likely to be held in Uganda so as to give victims a Chance to participate in the court sittings.
As to regards to Kony’s whereabouts, Leonia noted that they are working with various stakeholders, governments to have the war Lord arrested and produced in court.
When asked on whether there is any lead to his arrest, she declined to comment further on the matter that these are confidential matters which she can’t just expose to the public.
“We consistently receive intelligence information that Kony is still alive and active according to our intelligence no tangible evidence has been produced that he is not alive.”
Joseph Kony Joseph Kony is suspected of 36 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, allegedly committed between at least 1st July 2002 and 31st December 2005 in northern Uganda.
On 29th October 2024, the Pre-Trial Chamber III of the International Criminal Court issued a decision indicating that all the requirements to hold a confirmation of charges hearing in the absence of the suspect Joseph Kony had been met.
The Chamber, composed of Judges Althea Violet Alexis-Windsor, Presiding Judge, Iulia Antoanella Motoc and Haykel Ben Mahfoudh, found that (i) Mr Kony is a person who ‘cannot be found’ within the meaning of article 61(2)(b) of the ICC Rome Statute; (ii) all reasonable steps to secure his appearance and to inform him of the charges and the date of the confirmation of charges hearing, initially scheduled for 15 October 2024, have been taken, and (iii) there is cause to hold the confirmation of charges hearing in absentia.
