Kadaga asks ICC to let Uganda try Kony

Kampala

The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, has joined the chorus of many African heads of states asking the International Criminal Court (ICC) to allow countries like Uganda to try those accused of war crimes, including LRA leader Joseph Kony.

Ms Kadaga, who is on a working visit to Italy, also asked the ICC to urgently addresses the conflict between the Rome Statute and national laws passed by states which are signatories to the Statute.

Addressing the 7th Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians for the International Criminal Court and the World Parliamentary Conference on Human Rights in Rome, Italy early this week, Ms Kadaga said although Uganda had the necessary legal and institutional framework, the ICC has refused to grant a request to withdraw the case against LRA rebel leaders it referred to the ICC. She was referring to the principle of complementarity which allows states to take charge of their own trials.

“States should be free to refer a matter to the ICC, withdraw it or direct proceedings to be carried out by the state’s local courts. Uganda tried to withdraw its reference to the ICC concerning the leaders of the LRA but without success,” she said.
Kony was indicted in July 2005 over crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Commitment
ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda reaffirmed the commitment of the international community to arrest and try Kony and his accomplices for crimes against humanity.
Ms Bensouda appealed to member states for cooperation in enforcing the arrest of persons for whom warrants have been issued.

snaturinda@ug.nationmedia.com