- Browse/Search the Program
Search
Program Calendar
Browse By Day
Browse By Room
- Information Menu
Search Tips
Virtual Exhibit Hall
- Navigation and Settings Menu
Personal Schedule
Sign In
From relief to apprehension, confusion, and anger: reactions of LRA victims to the Ongwen and Kwoyelo reparations awards.
Fri, September 5, 8:00 to 9:15am, Deree | Arts Center Building, Arts Center Deree 002Abstract
2024 saw two courts order reparations in favour of victims of crimes against humanity and war crimes perpetrated by members of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Northern Uganda. In light of the indigency of Dominic Ongwen, the International Criminal Court (ICC) directed the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) to seek contributions to fund and implement the reparations award made against him in favour 49,772 victims: totaling €52,429,000 (approx.. UGX216,689,057,000 (Ugandan Shillings)). Due to the indigency of Thomas Kwoyelo, the International Crimes Division (ICD) of the Ugandan High Court, ordered the Ugandan state to provide reparations to 103 victims, finding that ‘for each death, the government should pay UGX10 million (approx. €2616), UGX4 million (€1046) for each person who suffered bodily injuries, UGX3.5 million (€916) for each person who lost property including dwellings, livestock, or household goods and UGX5 million (€1308) for each victim who suffered from sexual and gender-based crimes’.
This presentation offers a window into victims’ reactions to these awards as expressed on the ground in Northern Uganda. It details relief and hope, for some, but also apprehension that the awards will never materialise: a potentially legitimate concern. Despite admirable outreach efforts by the ICC, ICD, and TFV, the presentation also details a high level of confusion amongst victim communities about who will actually receive reparations; this is already leading to expectations which can never be met, as many victims unattached to either case anticipate they will receive reparations. Amongst LRA victims who are unattached to either case and aware they will not receive reparations, the presentation contemplates expressions of confusion, anger, and hopelessness, feelings of neglect, and the sense that false promises have been made.