DR Congo allocates $120M for victims of Uganda’s illicit occupation

The Democratic Republic of Congo has allocated $120 million in reparations to the victims of Uganda's illegal occupation of parts of the country in the early 2000s, according to a statement on Thursday.

In the first phase, the government intends to spend $30 million to fund community infrastructure projects in each of the affected communities in four provinces: Tshopo, Ituri, Bas-Uele and Haut-Uele, said the statement by the Justice Ministry.

To be funded are health, education, water and socio-economic development projects.

“These funds will be used to support community projects aimed at honoring the memory of the victims and strengthening social cohesion,” it said.

Justice State Minister Guillaume Ngefa promised transparent management of the funds and consultation with the target communities.

“Reparation is a duty of justice and a responsibility of the State,” he said.

On individual compensation, the ministry said it would be considered in the second phase of the implementation, which will begin as soon as the audit and validation of the lists of eligible victims are finalized.

The development is in implementation of a 2022 judgment by the International Court of Justice, which ordered Uganda to pay $325 million in reparations to Congo for its role in the conflict in the eastern part of the country between 1998 and 2003.

The court ruled that Uganda had violated international law when its troops occupied parts of eastern Congo and supported other armed groups in the country.

The court ordered Uganda to pay the sum in five yearly installments of $65 million starting in September 2022.

A total of $260 million has already been paid by Uganda, according to the Congolese Justice Ministry.