Wife and Children of Ugandan Warlord Joseph Kony Repatriated to Uganda

Joseph Kony’s wife and three children have returned to Uganda from the Central African Republic. Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, is wanted for war crimes. A hearing to confirm charges is set for September 9, with the U.S. offering a $5 million reward for his capture. The LRA has declined significantly, but Kony remains elusive in the Central African Republic.

KAMPALA, Uganda — The Ugandan authorities announced on Wednesday that one of Joseph Kony’s wives and three of his children have been repatriated from the Central African Republic. Joseph Kony, the notorious leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), remains evading capture despite being wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for 36 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed between July 2002 and December 2005 in northern Uganda.

A hearing in The Hague to confirm the charges against him is scheduled for September 9. The U.S. government has placed a $5 million bounty on information that leads to Kony’s arrest. Major General Felix Kulayigye, a military spokesman, confirmed that Kony’s wife and children were flown back to Uganda, marking the latest in a series of family repatriations from the region.

Kony leads the LRA, an insurgent group known for its brutal guerrilla tactics, including the mass abduction of children for use as fighters and sex slaves. He is suspected of hiding in the Central African Republic as efforts to apprehend him continue. The LRA’s activities began in the 1980s, and at its height, the group was infamous for its heinous acts against civilians across Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan.

The organization has dwindled significantly in recent years due to military actions that have resulted in the deaths or capture of many of its key commanders. In 2012, the advocacy group Invisible Children gained considerable attention for its online campaign that condemned the LRA’s crimes, highlighting the tragedy of child abductions and forced recruitment into the conflict.

In summary, the recent repatriation of Joseph Kony’s family from the Central African Republic highlights ongoing efforts to address the legacy of his leadership of the Lord’s Resistance Army. While Kony remains at large, international legal proceedings are advancing, underscoring the international community’s commitment to justice for his alleged war crimes. Efforts to combat and diminish the influence of the LRA continue, with notable successes in recent years.

Original Source: www.newsday.com