The enduring scars of Joseph Kony’s alleged atrocities in Uganda were brought to the forefront during a landmark hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday. Kony, the elusive leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), faces 39 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, torture, and enslavement, reportedly committed between 2002 and 2005 in northern Uganda. Despite the passage of two decades, the repercussions of these brutal acts remain deeply felt, with survivors still grappling with physical and psychological trauma. Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang emphasized the lasting devastation, stating, ‘The social and cultural fabric of Uganda has been torn apart, and they are struggling to recover.’ The LRA’s insurgency, which targeted the Ugandan government, resulted in over 100,000 deaths and the abduction of 60,000 children, according to UN estimates. The group’s notoriety for extreme violence, including forced cannibalism and drinking of blood, has left indelible marks on survivors like Everlyn Ayo, who recounted the horrors of her childhood. Now 39, Ayo plans to follow the proceedings from Gulu, far from the ICC courtroom in The Hague. The hearing, the first of its kind to be held in absentia, aims to confirm charges against Kony, who has been on the run since 2006. While a trial cannot proceed without his presence, prosecutors hope the process will expedite justice if he is ever apprehended. Stella Angel Lanam, a former child soldier and now a counselor for victims, expressed a shared sentiment: ‘Even though we have passed through a lot, we cannot lose hope. At least I will get justice.’