Reparations for victims of former LRA commander Dominic Ongwen have received a significant boost after Finland donated €400,000 (approximately Shs1.7 billion) to the International Criminal Court Trust Fund for Victims.
The funds will support the implementation of reparations ordered by the International Criminal Court (ICC), including compensation and rehabilitation for more than 49,000 victims in northern Uganda who suffered during the conflict involving the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
Finland becomes the first State Party to earmark a voluntary contribution specifically for the Ongwen reparations programme. Part of the funding will also support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in the Central African Republic, reflecting a broader commitment to assisting victims of international crimes.
Ongwen, a former senior commander in the LRA, was convicted by the ICC for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in northern Uganda. The court ordered reparations aimed at addressing the harm suffered by thousands of individuals and communities affected by attacks, abductions, sexual violence, and forced recruitment.
In addition to supporting victims in Uganda and the Central African Republic, part of Finland’s contribution will assist in cases involving convicted Congolese militia leaders Thomas Lubanga Dyilo and Bosco Ntaganda. These cases include programmes for former child soldiers and other victims of armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the Trust Fund, the new funding will expand access to medical care, psychosocial support, and livelihood assistance for affected communities. Officials say the contribution strengthens ongoing efforts to provide tangible redress and long-term recovery opportunities for victims of some of the gravest crimes under international law.
The move underscores growing international support for victim-centred justice and reinforces the ICC’s mandate to ensure that accountability for atrocities is accompanied by meaningful reparations for survivors.
