The International Criminal Court (ICC) has expressed confidence that the man they have in their custody is Mr Dominic Ongwen, the indicted former senior Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels’ commander.
Although majority of LRA fighters use pseudo names for fear of repercussion, in case they escape from the bush, Ongwen is known to have used his real name.
Recently, a 63-year-old woman from Awach Sub County in Gulu district who claimed to be the biological mother of Ongwen claimed that her son was baptized as Dominic Okumu.
Ms Alexis Acayo claims that the former LRA leader was born on the 28th of June 1980 and was baptized on the 28th of August that very year at Awach Catholic Church before he was abducted at the age of 10 while on his way to school.
But there is a lot of confusion after another family in Kaladima, Lamogi Sub County in Amuru district also claimed Ongwen is their son.
During the pre-trial hearing in January this year, Ongwen was asked to confirm his identity.
He identified himself as Dominic Ongwen, a LRA leader, born in Gulu in northern Uganda in 1975.
Ongwen who wore a blue suit, white shirt and chequered tie in court told court that he was abducted in 1988 and was later taken to the bush when he was 14 years old.
In a live TV broadcast from The Hague, Ongwen spoke in Acholi, the language widely spoken in northern Uganda.
Mr Phakiso Mochochoko, the Head of the Jurisdiction, Complementarity and Cooperation Division (JCCD) told journalist in Gulu town on Thursday that, “In his first appearance, Ongwen confirmed his identity and the judges are satisfied. Ongwen answered specific questions regarding his place of birth, date of birth and place of birth.”
He noted above that, Ongwen’s photos have already been in circulation and it is not different from the face of the suspect in custody.
He also dismissed the question of Ongwen’s parentage saying the court is not interested in it.
Ongwen, a feared commander has so far appeared in the dock at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to face war crimes charges though he was not required to enter a plea.
He is the first member of the LRA to appear before the court and faces a total of seven counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder and enslavement.
The charges all relate to an attack on Lukodi IDP camp in Bungatira Sub County in 2004 were over 50 unarmed civilians were massacred.
On the evening of May 19th 2004, unknown number of rebels led by Ongwen rounded up hundreds of civilians before executing them.
The rebels over run the camp after overpowering the army personnel before going on a killing spree, looting, burning down houses and maiming.
The LRA rebellion began more than two decades ago in northern Uganda and its estimated 200-500 fighters – many of them child soldiers – have since terrorized large swathes of central African Republic (CAR).
