Ruth Achan, the wife of Joseph Rao Kony, founder of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), along with her children Maisa Amu, Betty Akidi, and Pope Kony is set to undergo an Acholi cleansing ritual ahead of their reintegration into the community.
Achan, who surrendered to Ugandan authorities in the Central African Republic (CAR), was repatriated last week alongside her children. She was received by Kenneth Omona, the Minister of State for Northern Uganda.
According to Geoffrey Okello Okuna, the Minister of Information in Ker Kwaro Acholi, the family will undergo the cultural rite to cleanse them of any bad omens they may have encountered during the insurgencies in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and CAR. However, he noted that the date for the ceremony has not yet been finalized. The event will also be attended by representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister.
The Daily Star has learned that the ritual involves stepping on fresh eggs and an ofa tree branch, a practice believed to cleanse and reconcile individuals with the community they may have offended.
Achan’s surrender comes at a time when the International Criminal Court (ICC) has set a date for the confirmation of charges against her husband, Joseph Kony. The hearing is scheduled to begin on September 9, 2025, in his absence.
According to the Prosecution’s submission of the Document Containing the Charges, Kony is suspected of 36 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, allegedly committed between July 1, 2002, and December 31, 2005, in northern Uganda. While the case originally included Raska Lukwiya, Okot Odhiambo, and Vincent Otti, proceedings against them were terminated following their deaths.
Arrest warrants in this case were initially issued under seal on July 8, 2005, and later unsealed on October 13, 2005. Kony remains at large.
On November 23, 2023, Pre-Trial Chamber II issued a preliminary decision on the Prosecutor’s request to hold a confirmation of charges hearing in Kony’s absence. The Prosecutor filed the Document Containing the Charges on January 19, 2024.
On March 4, 2024, Pre-Trial Chamber II ruled in favor of proceeding with the confirmation of charges hearing in Kony’s absence, should he fail to appear. The hearing was originally scheduled to commence on October 15, 2024. However, on September 12, 2024, the chamber postponed the hearing following observations from the Defense, Prosecution, and the Office of the Public Counsel for Victims.
On October 29, 2024, Pre-Trial Chamber III determined that all requirements for holding the confirmation of charges hearing in Kony’s absence had been met.
Last year, the International Crimes Division, sitting in Gulu, sentenced a former LRA member—though details of the sentencing were not provided.
