International Criminal Court (ICC): Dominic Ongwen

Q&A with Victoria Nyanjura (Survivor, Founder Women in Action for Women, Uganda), Joseph Manoba (Lawyer and Legal Representative for Victims in Ongwen case) and Lorraine Smith van Lin (independent victims’ rights expert)

On 4 February 2021, the ICC’s Trial Chamber IX found Lord Resistance Army’s Commander Dominic Ongwen guilty for a total of 61 crimes comprising crimes against humanity and war crimes, including many conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence crimes, committed in Northern Uganda between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2005. On 6 May 2021, Dominic Ongwen was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for these crimes.

In this Q&A we discuss this case with three renowned experts, namely Victoria Nyanjura (Survivor, Founder Women in Action for Women Uganda), Joseph Manoba (lawyer and Legal Representative for victims in the Ongwen case) and Lorraine Smith van Lin (independent victim’s rights expert). By answering 11 questions, they provide insight in the complexity of this case, including how it is perceived by LRA victims and survivors in Uganda.