Gulu City, Uganda: The Government of Finland has committed €400,000 (approximately UGX 1.7 billion) to support compensation for victims of convicted former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Dominic Ongwen, becoming the first country to directly finance the court-ordered reparations programme in the case.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by Finland’s Ambassador to Uganda, Pirkka Tapiola, during a function at Bomah Hotel in Gulu, a symbolic location at the heart of atrocities committed during the two-decade insurgency in northern Uganda.
The funds will be channelled through the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV), an independent body linked to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Addressing survivors, cultural leaders and civil society representatives, Ambassador Tapiola said convictions alone are not sufficient. “A judgment alone is not enough. Justice must reach the ground. It must be felt in the lives of survivors,” he said.
“Reparations are not symbolic gestures; they are a recognition of harm and a practical step toward restoring dignity.”
Tapiola emphasized Finland’s long-standing support for international justice, noting that the country has been a member of the ICC since 2000. “The credibility of international justice depends on whether victims see real change in their lives,” he added.
A Historic Conviction, Lingering Needs
Ongwen was convicted in 2021 for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in internally displaced persons’ camps including Lukodi, Pajule, Odek and Abok. The crimes included murder, torture, sexual slavery, forced marriage, forced pregnancy and recruitment of child soldiers.
While the conviction was hailed as historic, survivors have voiced concerns about delays and funding gaps in implementing reparations.
Kevin Kelly, a member of the TFV Board of Directors, described Finland’s contribution as a turning point. “This is a generous and courageous step. Finland’s support strengthens our ability to deliver court-ordered reparations and restore hope in communities that suffered unimaginable crimes,” Kelly said.
Beyond Uganda
TFV officials indicated that part of the contribution is earmarked specifically for Ongwen case reparations. The remaining funds will support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in the Central African Republic and contribute to reparations in the cases of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo and Bosco Ntaganda.
Ambassador Tapiola underscored the urgency of supporting survivors of sexual violence. “These survivors carry deep physical and psychological scars. The international community has a responsibility to ensure they are not forgotten,” he said.
Northern Uganda’s conflict displaced nearly two million people and left lasting trauma and socio-economic scars. By making the declaration in Gulu rather than Kampala, Finland signalled its intent to centre victims in the justice process.
“We wanted to make this announcement here, in Gulu, because this is where the impact was felt,” Tapiola said. “It is important that survivors hear directly that they have not been abandoned.”
Finland’s move now places pressure on other ICC member states to contribute toward fully funding reparations. “Justice is a collective responsibility,” the ambassador concluded. “We hope others will join us.”
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
