UGANDA: JOSEPH KONY ICC APPOINTED COUNSELS IN DIRE NEED TO MEET HIM

Members of Northern Uganda Media Club questioned Joseph Kony’s lead Counsel Peter Haynes if he is not making gambling to present war Lord’s Joseph Kony before ICC.

GULU CITY-MONDAY AUGUST 8, 2025.

By Okumu Livingstone Langol

“I think it is important to understand who we are, where we came from, my name is Peter Haynes, I came from the United Kingdom. We present the interest of Joseph Kony before the ICC. It is quite important that we are not Joseph Kony’s lawyers, it’s a misconception that we are not appointed by the LRA chief.”

Peter Haynes, Joseph Kony lead Counsel before ICC has distance themselves, says although they ICC appointed them to represent the Lord Resistance Army (LRA), chief there is mis information that is going around, their task before the ICC is not trial, what is going to be confirmation case before ICC chamber on September 9, 2025. This is a limited we are presenting his interest this is almost there has been controversial charges proceeding against Joseph Kony.

However, there was a computation to present to him, I am one of many. If you applied, they would look at your cases and your credentials. But I am a Lawyer with 20 years’ experience.

When I was appointed by ICC to present Joseph Kony’s interest, I have appointed my teams, that comprised Christopher Gosnell a Canadian with vest experienced in the ICC case, Geoffrey Boris Anyuru, an Acholi with reach cultural legal and Kate Gibson co-counsel Kony’s Defense team and Maria Mabinty Kamara Public information and Outreach coordinator register.

Maria Mabinty Kamara took to the pulpit by introducing Joseph Kony’s team, saying we are pleased to have Joseph Kony lead Counsel to provide the inside and offer the concrete to the media conference.
Peter Haynes says we know Joseph Kony; we cannot reach him where he is currently based, we have not contacted him or have his contact.

“What is going on is an arrest warrant, we are presenting interest knowing the confirmation charges over Joseph Kony have been in place. Having been appointed we are going to represent his interest before the ICC.”
Geofrey Borris Anyuru shifted and confirmed his readiness, saying we are truly understanding the legal redress, and we too knew the cost of interest.

Kate Gibson, one of Joseph Kony’s Counsel, argued to the media that we are all aware that Uganda and ICC have a long history. Uganda government sent the letter to allow ICC investigating Joseph Kony, Uganda though the ICC are able to prosecute and arrest Joseph Kony, the ICC investigated Joseph Kony and the arrest warrant was issued in 2005.

“As you know Joseph Kony has not been able to arrest and prosecute him, in 2023 the ICC came up to trial Joseph Kony in absentee, this trial true ICC was trying to prosecute someone who is not present, we have been looking for this project when the ICC is century Joseph Kony in Uganda.” Counsel Gibson remarked.

Thirdly, we think it is illegal to try someone who is not present, she questioned, what can we do, the position we have adopted before ICC, told them that you cannot prosecute someone who is not present. The ICC chamber also passed the judgement that it is illegal to trial Joseph Kony in absentia, she stressed to the media conference.
Reaching that we spoke to political leaders in Uganda, the Regions leaders, cultural leaders and the former LRA abductees and the victims in Northern Uganda.
“A lot of people talk to us about what they preferred and we say this is not justice. What we have been looking for to analyze the evidence is credible evidence that the ICC saying is right about Joseph Kony. “Gibson warns.

Counsel Christopher Godsell pure venom, says the notion of public says where is that, the ICC case of principal the presentation that the court had in this case this particular interest as Uganda back up in the case in 2002. Saying they cannot arrest Joseph Kony.

The issue of complimentary is not coming into operation, the ICC is not supreme to the court of Uganda, ICC superior to the court of Uganda, that is very important to guide the court function. “Only the principle of complementarity” that 1st July 2002. We cannot examine any crimes before that day, the court cannot reach that before 1st July 2002.

This is not true in Uganda the crimes that occurred before right from 1986 if its criminal law that apply even to ICC war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression crimes against nationals can be handled. Crimes like murder, rape, child abduction they are crimes international law charges against Joseph Kony it involved the victims of child soldiers.

“Domestic proceedings are not always inferior to international law, it can be in line with the Victus it bases to enter into situations not recorded, the great deal by the ICC and Uganda society.

Geofrey Borris Anyuru, on the right of Joseph Kony, interest absentia.

Can the court of Uganda try Joseph Kony? By the time the war broke out in 1986 in Uganda. However, when the ICC trial Chamber judges ruled that Joseph Kony cannot be tried in absentia. When ICC appointed Joseph Kony’s lawyers.
Peter Haynes and his team said they are not mandated to be Joseph Kony Lawyer but to present his interest.
Because they argued that no one can be tried before ICC or a world court jurisprudent. But the Kony’s lawyers will not represent him when ICC trial starts, once they contacted Joseph Kony or he appointed them as his counsels, they will cease to represent his interest.