Uganda Court Orders Compensation for LRA Victims

A Ugandan court has ordered the government to compensate victims of Thomas Kwoyelo, a convicted Lord's Resistance Army commander, with payments of up to 10 million Ugandan shillings (approximately $2,740) each. Kwoyelo, sentenced to 40 years for war crimes, including murder and rape, was deemed unable to provide compensation due to his 'indigent' status, prompting the court to hold the government responsible. This landmark ruling, affecting 103 victims, highlights the government's failure to protect citizens during the LRA's two-decade reign of terror, which left over 100,000 dead. While the judgment has been welcomed as a step toward justice, there are concerns regarding the government's willingness to enforce the payments, as officials have questioned the legal basis for the ruling. Furthermore, the compensation awarded is limited compared to the vast number of victims from the conflict, raising doubts about the adequacy of the redress provided. The LRA, which has diminished but remains active in some regions, was led by Joseph Kony, who orchestrated numerous atrocities in Uganda and neighboring countries.