“Ongwen was among talented fighters who can be likened to UPDF’s Paul Lokech” witness tells the Court

On October 1^st, 2018, the Defense counsel in the Dominic Ongwen case started the presentation of its evidence before the International Criminal Court. Dominic Ongwen, a former commander of the LRA, is being charged for 70 crimes, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Defense opened their presentation of evidence with the testimony from Yusuf Okwonga Adek, a traditional Acholi leader who worked with Joseph Kony during the peace negotiations.

Mr. Yusuf Adek decided to testify as a public witness, not protected by privacy.  “If you speak the truth, why should you hide your identity?” he said.

During his testimony, Mr. Adek went through the background of the conflict and explained in general the position taken from the population as regards the LRA. “Many people went in the bush with the LRA for contrasting the government, because they were tired of suffering the abuses and violence from it (the government)”.

Adek said he knows Joseph Kony very well, they first met in 1994 and then again during the peace talks in 2004. When they met, He and Kony had a conversation about his contact with spirits. “Kony is subject to spiritual control and his behaviour is not a choice” Adek added.

As a result of his close relationship with Kony, Adek testified that he got the Rebel leader (Kony) to take part in the peace talks, in order to let the Acholi go back to their villages and get education, bury the dead and leave the camps and also to admit to the killing of Vincent Otti as punishment for betraying the LRA. “All those who tried to escape were imprisoned; the LRA fighters would attack their area of origin and kill their parents” Mr. Adek said.

Mr. Adek during Tuesday’s hearing admitted that “Dominic Ongwen was among talented LRA fighters who can be likened to UPDF’s Paul L’okech, whose leadership has calmed the situation in Somalia”. “It is why your boss increases your rank.” He said that “Dominic is a reserved person who doesn’t talk much and if a soldier could be identified by appearance, Ongwen would not be one.” He added.

Asked about their opinions regarding the trial, community members in and around Gulu attending a live screening at Gulu district council hall re-echoed the need for the Ugandan government to be held accountable for its role during the LRA conflict if justice is to be done to Ongwen.