17 years later, the survivors of the massacre are still waiting for compensation from the government for what they say was its failure to protect them from the brutal attack.
Anglican Bishop Emeritus Nelson Onono Onweng, the Chairperson of the Acholi clerics under the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI) said that they are happy by the ICC`s judgement and termed it as ‘’considerate’’.
In Pajule Town Council in Pader District where Ongwen commanded an attack on Pajule IDP camp on October 10, 2003, victims of the atrocities welcomed the verdict and described it as a relief.
The International Criminal Court convicted Ongwen, 45, in February this year on 61 crimes including rape, sexual enslavement, child abductions, torture and murder as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Ongwen who made submissions at The Hague based court on Thursday during a mitigation session of his case noted that for 27 years since his abduction as a child by the LRA rebels, he lived in prison in captivity.
The court was set to pronounce its judgement on the 12th January 2021 but a Monday 30th November 2020 press release indicates that the judgement will now take place on the 4th February 2021.
Ogwen whose trial started on December 6, 2016, is accused of 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Northern Uganda while with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
Okalany is competing for the job with three others; Morris A. Anyah from Nigeria, Fergal Gaynor from Ireland, and Richard Roy from Canada, for what is arguably the most important job in the international criminal justice system. They are seeking to replace Gambian national Fatou Bensouda, whose tour of duty ends in June 2021.
Okalany is competing for the job with three others; Morris A. Anyah from Nigeria who is a trial attorney in Chicago, U.S.A, Fergal Gaynor from Ireland, who currently serves as the Reserve International Co-Prosecutor at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and Richard Roy from Canada who is currently Senior General Counsel with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.
The committee chaired by Sabine Nölke reports to the President of the Assembly that due to COVID-19, an online interaction was conducted and of the 144 candidates who submitted applications for the job, only 89 candidates submitted supporting documents and now a final four have been shortlisted.
MP Centenary maintains that the petition has nothing to do with the King and the Kingdom but rather individuals who lost their lives. He adds that once enough evidence is gathered, there is no one who will stop the proceedings of the case.
Hohler also says the testimonies from Ongwens forced wives stand out as evidence. She says the testimonies are not ordinary as it goes beyond only the description of what happened.
Witness D-121 was part of the Amuka militia, who repulsed the LRA fighters before they could kill anyone or damage any property in Abok. He said their commanders at the time told them not to speak about what happened in Abok during the June 8, 2004 LRA attack.
