In February, the International Court of Justice ordered the Ugandan government to pay $325m in reparations to the Democratic Republic of Congo after plundering its resources, killing its people, looting and exploitation.
The ICJ had ruled in DR Congo’s favour but the valuation of the reparation wasn’t anywhere near what DR Congo demanded, $11 Billion.
Patrick Muyaya, the spokesperson of the government of the DR Congo revealed that the Ugandan government has paid $65 million, which is the first of the five tranches of payments to be made.
“The payment of this indemnity is to be made in five installments of $65 million. The first had just been paid,” Mr Muyaya said.
The court had awarded DR Congo $225m for loss of lives, $40m and $60m for plundering and looting the country of its abundance of diamonds, gold and other resources of choice.
The court in its February ruling stated; “The reparation awarded to the DR Congo for damage to persons and to property reflects the harm suffered by individuals and communities as a result of Uganda’s breach of its international obligations.”
In its judgement, the ICJ judges said the Ugandan military killed 10,000-15,000 people in the eastern Ituri region. It accused the soldiers to racking gold and diamonds and taking it to their country, while it ordered that the reparation be made in the next five years between 2022 and 2026.
The DR Congo conflict involved many Eastern African countries with Rwanda also famous for playing a major role as they backed rebel forces.
The ICJ seventeen years ago had found Uganda culpable of the violation of international laws when it occupied Eastern Ituri Province with troops and supported rebels.
DR Congo revealed it held many negotiations but they failed to yield the desired result, hence its ICJ intervention.