The Prosecutor v. Dominic Ongwen
-
The trial began on 6 December 2016. The Prosecution and the Defence have completed the presentation of their evidence. The Legal Representatives of Victims also called witnesses to appear before the Chamber. On 12 December 2019, the presiding judge declared the closure of the submission of evidence in the case. The closing briefs were filed on 24 February 2020. The closing statements took place from 10 to 12 March 2020. On 4 February 2021, Trial Chamber IX, composed of Judge Bertram Schmitt (Presiding), Judge Peter Kovacs and Judge Raul C. Pangalangan, found Dominic Ongwen guilty for a total of 61 crimes comprising crimes against humanity and war crimes, committed in Northern Uganda between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2005. On 6 May 2021, Trial Chamber IX sentenced Dominic Ongwen to 25 years of imprisonment.
On 15 December 2022, the Appeals Chamber confirmed the decisions of Trial Chamber IX on Dominic Ongwen’s guilt and sentence. On 18 December 2023, Mr Ongwen was transferred to Norway to serve his sentence of imprisonment.
On 28 February 2024, Trial Chamber IX delivered its Order on Reparations to victims. On 7 April 2025, the Appeals Chamber rejected Mr Dominic Ongwen’s appeal against the Order on Reparations and confirmed the Trial Chamber’s decision.
Trial Chamber II
Judge Socorro Flores Liera
(Presiding)
Judge Kimberly Prost
Judge Nicolas Guillou
Office of the Prosecutor
Karim A. A. Khan QC, Prosecutor
Defence
Charles Achaleke Taku
Legal Representatives of the Victims
Joseph Akwenyu Manoba
Francisco Cox
Paolina Massidda
Government referral
Government of Uganda refers situation to the ICC. Press release
ICC-02/04-01/15
Investigations begin in Uganda
OTP opens investigations in Uganda, makes public announcementPress release
ICC-02/04-01/15
Arrest warrants requested
OTP submits application to Pre-Trial Judges requesting arrest warrants for 5 suspects: Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo, Dominic Ongwen and Raska Lukwiya
ICC-02/04-01/15
Arrest warrants issued under seal
Pre-Trial Judges issue arrest warrant under seal for the 5 suspects.Press release
ICC-02/04-01/15
Request for cooperation
Pre-Trial Judges ask the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Sudan to search for, arrest, detain and surrender the suspects to the Court.
ICC-02/04-01/15
Arrest warrants unsealed
Pre-Trial Judges unseal the arrest warrants
ICC-02/04-01/15
Proceedings against Mr Lukwiya terminated
Pre-Trial Judges terminate proceedings against Mr Lukwiya following his death on 12 August 2006
ICC-02/04-01/15
Admissibility proceedings
Pre-Trial Judges initiate proceedings to determine the admissibility of the case, appointed a Defence Counsel, and invited the Prosecutor, the Defence, the Government of Uganda and victims, to submit their observations
ICC-02/04-01/15
Admissibility proceedings
OTP and the Defence make submissions on the admissibility of the case
ICC-02/04-01/15
Decision: Case is declared admissible
Pre-Trial Judges determine the case is admissible
ICC-02/04-01/15
Appeals Chamber confirms admissibility
Appeals Chamber confirms Pre-Trial Chamber II's admissibility decision in response to Defence appeal
ICC-02/04-01/15
Mr Ongwen surrenders
Dominic Ongwen surrenders
ICC-02/04-01/15
Mr Ongwen transferred to ICC custody
Mr Ongwen transferred and surrendered to the ICC through cooperation with the United Nations and in particular the MINUSCA, and the authorities of Central African Republic, Uganda, the United States of America, Belgium and the Netherlands (the ICC host State), as well as to the African Union.Press release
ICC-02/04-01/15
Dominic Ongwen makes first appearance before ICC
ICC-CPI
Pre-Trial phase begins as Mr Ongwen has first day in Court before Judges of Pre-Trial Chamber IIPhotographsPress release
ICC-02/04-01/15
Ongwen's non-redacted arrest warrant released
Mr Ongwen's non-redacted arrest warrant and its translations in French and Acholi were reclassified as public, as instructed by Pre-Trial Chamber II
ICC-02/04-01/15
Ongwen case separated from Kony et al case
Ongwen case separated from Kony et al case (See Kony et al case) Press release
ICC-02/04-01/15
Confirmation of charges hearing opens
Pre-Trial phase continues as Pre-Trial Judges open hearing to decide whether or not to commit the Ongwen case to trial PhotographsMedia advisory
ICC-02/04-01/15
Confirmation of charges hearing closes
Pre-Trial Judges to deliberate and decide in due course whether or not to confirm the charges and commit the case to trial
ICC-02/04-01/15
Pre-Trial Chamber confirms charges against Mr Ongwen
ICC-CPI
Pre-Trial Judges confirm charges, Ongwen trial to begin in due course: Trial phase beginsDecision on the confirmation of charges against Dominic OngwenSeparate opinion of Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut Photographs Press release
ICC-02/04-01/15
Trial to open on 6 December 2016
On 30 May 2016, Trial Chamber IX of the International Criminal Court (ICC) scheduled the opening of the trial in the case of The Prosecutor v. Dominic Ongwen for 6 December 2016. Press release
ICC-02/04-01/15
Opening of the trial
On 6 December 2016, the trial in the case The Prosecutor v. Dominic Ongwen opened before Trial Chamber IX at the seat of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. Dominic Ongwen is accused of 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in northern Uganda.Press release
ICC-02/04-01/15