MPs renew calls for Kony arrest

By Henry Sekanjako

MPs under the body umbrella Uganda National Group of Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) have renewed calls for the arrest of lord’s resistance Army leader (LRA) Joseph Kony who is wanted by the international criminal court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The group chaired by Kajara county MP Stephen Tashobya  believes that the arrest and surrender of Joseph Kony and others at large , will significantly facilitate the processes of accountability and justice for the crimes committed against thousands of people in northern Uganda.

“The Uganda national group of PGA strongly urges the armed forces of Uganda, as well as regional forces and US military personnel, collectively engaged in the military pursuit of LRA leader – Joseph Kony and other fugitives to make every effort possible to arrest these individuals so that they may be brought to justice,” said Tashobya in a statement.

Kony’s whereabouts however still remain a puzzle to many.

The MPs noted that the arrest of Kony would be a fulfillments of Uganda’s legal obligation as a state party to the Rome statute of the ICC to cooperate with the ICC in execution of arrests, warrants , as enshrined in the Ugandan criminal Act 0f 2010.

“In the event that Kony, Okot Odhiambo, Vincet otti, Dominic Ongwen are killed during the course of these military operations, the ICC proceedings against any of those that are deceased will automatically be terminated,” noted Tashobya.

They noted that having Kony killed will impede accountability for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as whole and leave many victims without redress for devastating harm which they have suffered in the past.

“We strongly welcome and support the ongoing international military assistance from both the United States (US) government and the regional forces in the pursuit of these fugitives, and recognize the very difficult circumstances in which they are fulfilling their mandate,” they said in a statement issued on Friday last week.

The Ugandan National Group of PGA is a global parliamentary network dedicated to accountability for crimes of international concern.