ICC Holds Hearings on Joseph Kony, With Community Screenings in Uganda

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has begun a three-day process to determine whether Joseph Kony, the elusive leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), should stand trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The confirmation of charges hearings kicked off on Tuesday, September 9, in The Hague.

Kony, who has evaded capture for decades, is indicted on 39 counts that include murder, rape, enslavement, and the forced conscription of children into his rebel force.

His bloody rebellion devastated northern Uganda and neighboring countries, leaving more than 100,000 people dead and forcing 1.5 million others from their homes.

Although he remains a fugitive, the ICC has assigned lawyers to defend his interests. The hearings are also giving space for victims’ counsel to make oral submissions alongside the prosecution and defense.

In Uganda, where memories of the LRA’s violence remain vivid, the ICC is working to make the proceedings accessible. Community screenings will be held in affected areas, including one at Gulu Secondary School in Gulu City.

Maria Mabinty Kamara, the ICC’s Public Information and Outreach Coordinator in Uganda, explained the initiative.

“The ICC will hold community screenings to ensure victims and affected communities can follow the proceedings.”

The hearings come against the backdrop of the earlier conviction of Dominic Ongwen, one of Kony’s senior commanders.

Ongwen is serving a 25-year sentence for war crimes and crimes against humanity, setting a precedent for accountability within the LRA’s leadership.