Uganda Child Soldier Loses War Crimes Appeal

The International Criminal Court, ICC  has rejected an appeal against the conviction and 25-year sentence for a Ugandan former child soldier who became a feared rebel commander.

Dominic Ongwen was found guilty last year of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by the Lord’s Resistance Army, LRA in Northern Uganda between 2002 and 2005.

Report says he was abducted by the LRA at the age of nine and was forced to fight as a child soldier.

One judge wanted the length of the sentence to be reconsidered due to the fact that Ongwen was a victim as well as a perpetrator of the conflict.

However, the majority of judges upheld the sentence. The leader of the LRA rebel group, Joseph Kony, is still at large.

BBC/Christopher Ojilere