Ugandan Government pays 247Bn war reparation to Democratic Republic of Congo
The government of Uganda has in this first quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year released Ugx 245 billion to pay to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in reparations for war crimes committed by Uganda troops in eastern Congo yesterday 16th July 2024
In the first quarter of the 2024–2025 fiscal year, the Ugandan government handed Ugx 245 billion to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as compensation for war crimes Ugandan troops perpetrated in the eastern Congo yesterday, July 16, 2024.
“We have provided Ugx 247 billion to settle our international obligation of the International Court of justice award to the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Uganda, we pay our obligations. “Said the Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary and Secretary for Treasury Ramadan Ggoobi on Tuesday.
In 1999, the Democratic Republic of Congo filed a case against Uganda at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, alleging that Uganda has engaged in acts of armed aggression against its territory and citizens.
The DRC accused Ugandan military personnel of engaging in widespread looting and committing various human rights violations. In 2022, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a ruling ordering Uganda to compensate the DRC with a payment of $325 million for its involvement in the conflict within the DRC.
Additionally, Uganda soldiers were found guilty of pillaging valuable resources, including gold, diamond, and timber. Though the DRC had sought $11 billion in damages, the court dismissed several aspects of the claims, ultimately significantly lower sum.
The International Court of Justice ordered Uganda to make five annual payments of $65 million each from 2022 to 2026, with the first payment scheduled for September. Uganda had contended that the DRC’s demand for billions of dollars in compensation would devastate its economy.
The total $325 million in compensation is allocated as follows: $225 million for damage that was inflicted on individuals, $40 million for damages to property, $60million for the looted resources.
In its judgment, the ICJ emphasized that the reparations awarded to the DRC for damage to persons and property were intended to reflect the suffering endured by individuals and communities due to Uganda’s violation of its international obligations.
