A Ugandan court has directed the government to compensate victims of former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo, awarding up to $2,500 to each victim. The ruling comes after Kwoyelo was convicted in August for his involvement in numerous crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, torture, and kidnapping, committed during his time with the LRA.
Kwoyelo, sentenced to 40 years in prison in October, was found unable to provide compensation to his victims, prompting the court in Gulu, northern Uganda, to hold the government accountable. The judges stated that the atrocities committed were a result of the government’s failure, thereby triggering its responsibility to offer reparations.
The LRA, led by Joseph Kony, was notorious for its violent insurgency against the Ugandan government, which led to the deaths of over 100,000 people and the abduction of 60,000 children across Uganda and neighboring countries.
Under the court’s ruling, 103 registered victims will receive four million Ugandan shillings (about $1,100), with additional payments for victims of rape and sexual violence, who will receive five million shillings ($1,360). The government, however, challenged the ruling, arguing that the compensation could be drawn from a trust fund managed by the International Criminal Court.
While some lawyers for the victims expressed disappointment with the amount, they welcomed the ruling as a step toward justice and a victory against impunity. Kwoyelo has already served 15 years in prison after his capture in 2009.