KAMPALA, Uganda — Ugandan authorities announced on Wednesday the repatriation of one of Joseph Kony’s wives and three of his children from the Central African Republic, while the notorious warlord remains elusive.
Joseph Kony faces charges at the International Criminal Court, where he is accused of 36 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, purportedly committed between July 2002 and December 2005 in northern Uganda. A hearing to confirm these charges has been scheduled for September 9th at The Hague. The United States has also extended a reward of $5 million for any information leading to his capture.
Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, a military spokesperson, confirmed the recent arrival of Kony’s family members in Uganda, stating that they are among many of his relatives who have returned to the country. The military official indicated that Kony is likely in hiding within the Central African Republic.
Kony is known for leading the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel faction that vehemently opposes the Ugandan government. The LRA gained infamy for abducting children, forcing them into fighting and other horrific acts. Originating in the 1980s, the LRA was notorious for its brutal acts against civilians in regions including Uganda, Congo, the Central African Republic, and present-day South Sudan.
In 2012, the U.S.-based group Invisible Children garnered international attention with a viral video emphasizing the LRA’s atrocities, notably the kidnapping of children who were then exploited as fighters or sex slaves. Over the years, the LRA’s influence has waned as several high-ranking commanders have been either captured or killed. Despite its decline, the hunt for Kony continues as he remains a fugitive.