Int. Criminal Court Investigations in Uganda Begin

International Criminal Court Announces the Launch of Formal Investigations in Uganda .

WHAT: The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) today announced the launch of formal investigations into the situation in Uganda. The Prosecutor’s Office will now look into allegations of crimes falling within the ICC’s jurisdiction (namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes), committed in the territory of Uganda since July 1, 2002 (the date of entry into force of the Rome Statute of the ICC).

WHEN: The opening of these investigations follows the referral of the situation in a letter signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni that was submitted to the Office of Prosecutor in December 2003. Since then, the ICC Prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, has determined that there is a reasonable basis to open an investigation into the situation concerning Uganda.

HOW: In submitting this referral, President Museveni committed Uganda to cooperating with the Office of the Prosecutor in its investigations. A referral by an ICC State Party is one of three ways that a case can be brought to the ICC, in addition to a referral by the UN Security Council under its Chapter VII authority, or the proprio motu initiation of an investigation by the Prosecutor on the basis of information on crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court.

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