Dominic Ongwen

Who is Dominic Ongwen?

Dominic Ongwen is the commander of the Sinia Brigade of the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group founded in northern Uganda. As the head of one of the four LRA brigades, Ongwen is a member of the "Control Altar" of the LRA that directs military strategy. Ongwen is the lowest ranking of the five LRA leaders for whom the International Criminal Court issued their first ever warrants in June 2005. He is charged with seven counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Ongwen was reported killed in combat with a unit of the Uganda People's Defence Force on October 10, 2005, and the identity of the body was confirmed by former LRA commanders. However, in July 2006, the ICC reported that genetic fingerprinting of the body confirmed that it was not that of Ongwen. News reports at this time put Ongwen in southwest Equatoria, Southern Sudan, attempting to rejoin LRA head Joseph Kony in Garamba, Ituri Province, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ongwen and a former wife featured in a film Picking up the Pieces by IRIN and released in October 2007. Uganda People's Defence Force spokesperson Maj. Felix Kulayije commented, "Unfortunately, the bastard is still alive."