The family of Joseph Kony, the fugitive leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), has been repatriated to Uganda from the Central African Republic (CAR), marking another step in the government’s efforts to reintegrate former LRA affiliates.
The group, which arrived at Entebbe International Airport in the early hours of February 26, 2025, includes Kony’s wife, Ruth Achan, and their children—Maisa Amu, Betty Akidi, and Pope Kony. They were officially received by Uganda’s State Minister for Northern Uganda, Kenneth Omona, and are set to be resettled in Gulu.
Despite this development, Kony himself remains at large, with a bounty of Shs 17 billion (approximately $4.5 million USD) on his head. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including mass killings, abductions, and sexual violence during the LRA’s insurgency.
This repatriation follows earlier efforts to bring back former LRA members. In July 2023, Uganda received 14 former LRA fighters, along with their families, after they surrendered to CAR authorities. The group, led by Major General Ali Acaye, also known as “Doctor,” included 14 wives and 33 children.
The Ugandan government has been actively facilitating the return and reintegration of LRA ex-combatants and their families as part of broader efforts to restore stability in northern Uganda and other affected regions. However, Kony’s continued presence in remote parts of central Africa remains a security concern, with international efforts to capture him still ongoing.
