‘Maj Gen’ Dominic Ongwen

By Frederic Musisi

The trial of former LRA commander Dominic Ongwen, 35, started yesterday at The Hague in the Netherlands. Below is his journey from abduction at the age of 10 to his surrender on January 5 in the Central African Republic (CAR).

2015: On January 17 CAR authorities hand him over to the ICC and he is flown to the headquarters at The Hague.
On January 16 UPDF hands him over to Central African Republic to be transferred to ICC custody.
On January 15 he is handed over to UPDF troops for processing.
On January 5 he is handed over to US troops who airlift him to their bases in Obo Town and is positively identified by the UPDF. Talks between Uganda and The African Union’s Regional Counter-LRA Task Force commence on the next course of action.
January 3 he slips into the hands of the Seleka Muslim outfit near Samouandja Province in south east CAR.

2014: LRA conducts occasional attacks in areas where UPDF/US troops are stationed.

2013: Defectors indicate that he may have regrouped with Kony again and promoted back to senior leadership.

2012: In August he escapes and moves further north into CAR. UPDF reports attacking Ongwen’s group in the process.

2011: He meets Kony again, is demoted on spot and threatened with execution.

2010: Kony sends a large force of loyal troops to intercept Ongwen’s group, which at that time operates along the Duru River in DRC. They split up Ongwen’s group and replace key members with fighters from Kony’s loyalist Central Brigade. Kony demotes him and gives Lt Col Binany command of LRA forces in Congo.

2009: After the botched raid, he refuses to join the rest of the LRA group in Central African Republic. Kony also receives reports that Ongwen is communicating with Ugandan officials with the intention of surrendering alongside his 60 fighters.

2008: In June he leads a raid on a South Sudanese military garrison in Nabanga in which several rebels die.

2007: LRA leader Joseph Kony orders the execution of Otti and his other close aides but Ongwen is spared. Negotiations with Uganda fail and LRA rebels push backwards to DRC.

2006: ICC confirms Ongwen is still alive after cross examining generic fingerprints of the said body collected with DNA samples of his known surviving relatives. Reports later confirm that he is still alive and is somewhere in the Equatorial province, present day South Sudan.

2005: Ongwen is reported dead by the UPDF in one of the field operations. ICC issues arrest warrants for Ongwen and other LRA deputies.

2004: ICC begins investigations into war atrocities reportedly committed by LRA.

2003: Uganda makes referral of Ongwen and four other LRA deputies to the International Criminal Court.

1998: He is promoted to the rank of Major

1994: At the age of 14 he is moved to Sudan where he undergoes military training in Khartoum, and is put in charge of overseeing field operations.

1990: Ongwen is abducted on his way to school at the age of 10 and thereafter placed in the hands of Vincent Otti, a senior LRA commander.

1986: Rebellion in northern Uganda breaks out after NRA/M captures power.

1980: Ongwen is born in Awach Sub-county in Gulu District.

Profiles of indictees

Joseph Kony. Was indicted on July 8, 2005, on 12 counts of crimes against humanity and 21 counts of war crimes. He is alleged to be the chairperson and commander-in-chief of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), an armed group which has been waging a guerrilla campaign since 1987 against the Ugandan government.

Okot Odhiambo. Was indicted on three counts of crimes against humanity and seven counts of war crimes in regard to the situation in Uganda. He is alleged to be an integral member of the policy-making leadership of the LRA.

Dominic Ongwen. Was indicted on 8 July 2005 on three counts of crimes against humanity and four counts of war crimes in regard to the situation in Uganda.
Vincent Otti. Was indicted on 11 counts of crimes against humanity and 21 counts of war crimes. He was allegedly a military commander and the second-in-command of the LRA. Otti’s alleged death has not been independently verified and the ICC considers him a fugitive.

Raska Lukwiya. He was indicted on one count of crimes against humanity and three counts of war crimes. On August 12, 2006 the UPDF killed Lukwiya in a battle with LRA forces and following the confirmation of his death, the Court terminated proceedings against Lukwiya on July 11, 2007

Compiled by Frederic Musisi, graphic by Muhammad Tamale