The International Criminal Court (ICC) began its first in-absentia confirmation hearing against Joseph Kony on 9 September 2025.
Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), faces 39 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The charges include murder, rape, sexual slavery, and conscripting child soldiers between 2002 and 2005.
Kony remains at large, but is represented by court-appointed defence counsel.
SURVIVORS WELCOME PROCEEDINGS BUT DEMAND JUSTICE
Victims in northern Uganda watched the hearing remotely via ICC outreach screens.
Survivors expressed relief that their suffering was finally acknowledged by international justice mechanisms.
However, many noted that Joseph Kony remains at large and has not yet faced justice at the ICC.
While the ICC has ordered reparations in past cases, including the Ongwen trial, implementation and disbursement to victims can take time.
LEGAL PRECEDENT FOR FUTURE ICC CASES
Legal experts say the hearing sets a precedent for prosecuting fugitives like Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu.
The ICC invoked Article 61 of the Rome Statute to proceed without Kony’s physical presence.
Judges will decide whether sufficient evidence exists to confirm the charges.
If confirmed, the case will move to trial pending Kony’s arrest. Defence lawyers argue that this process risks undermining fair trial standards.
UGANDA’S TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE EFFORTS CONTINUE
Uganda’s Parliament is reviewing a National Transitional Justice Bill to support civil war victims.
The bill includes provisions for reparations to victims of Uganda’s conflicts, complementing existing mechanisms such as those under the ICC.
Uganda previously tried LRA commander Thomas Kwoyelo under its International Crimes Division.
The Amnesty Act of 2000 has reintegrated former LRA fighters, including Kony’s relatives.
Uganda’s legal community urges holistic justice beyond international proceedings.
