In a surprise move that has swept the country off its feet, Joseph Kony’s family, the infamous commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), has been repatriated to Uganda. On February 26, 2025, Kony’s wife, Ruth Achan, and three children, Maisa Amu, Betty Akidi, and Pope Kony, stepped off the plane at Entebbe International Airport. They were greeted by Uganda’s State Minister for Northern Uganda, Kenneth Omona, during the morning hours. This is a milestone along Uganda’s long journey towards reconciliation and healing. The return of the family is part of a broader program by the government of Uganda to repatriate former members of the LRA and their families.

Last year, July 2023, 14 ex-LRA combatants and their wives and children were repatriated to Uganda after surrendering to government forces in the Central African Republic (CAR). This latest turn of events is significant, though, because it concerns the close relatives of Joseph Kony, a man whose name has become synonymous with terror and suffering over the past several decades. Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA, is the world’s most wanted individual. His rebel group carried out horrific attacks in northern Uganda and its surrounding nations for decades.

The LRA kidnapped children, forced them to serve as soldiers, and carried out horrific acts of violence against civilians. Thousands of civilians were killed, mutilated, or driven from their homes under the LRA’s campaign of terror. Even though the group was flushed out of Uganda in 2006, Kony remains at large, and a reward of Shs 17 billion (about $4.5 million USD) has been placed on his head. Kony’s return with his family is a sensitive and intricate issue. It is a blessing on one hand in the effort by the government to reintegrate former LRA members and their families into society. Conversely, it raises questions of justice and accountability.

Kony himself is still a wanted man at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity. His family, however, are not suspected of having committed any crime and are being treated as victims who need to be assisted in putting their lives together. Ruth Achan and her children will be relocated to Gulu, a northern Ugandan town that was hit hard by the violence of the LRA. The government has promised them the assistance they require to start fresh. This will involve access to education, medical care, and counseling services so that they can heal from the trauma they have endured. The goal is to ensure that they are able to live in peace and function as productive members of society.

Kony’s repatriation of family is part of a larger plan to reclaim peace and stability in northern Uganda. The area for years was left in shambles by the LRA ruthless campaign. Families were broken and communities left in ruin. The government’s move to repatriate former LRA members and their families is in its efforts to mend these wounds and attempt reconciliation. This approach has not been without controversy. There are some who believe that members of the LRA need to be brought to justice for their actions, and there are others who believe that the route of forgiveness and reintegration is the way forward. The government has pursued a middle path of action, trying rehabilitation and reintegration but also pursuing justice for those most responsible for the bloodshed. The return of Kony’s family is also a reminder of just how difficult it still is to fight the LRA.

Although the group has been severely depleted, Kony himself is still on the run, and there are still reports of LRA activity deep within the Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Ugandan government and international actors remain committed to apprehending Kony and dismantling the LRA in its entirety.

For the citizens of northern Uganda, the return of Kony’s family is a mixed bag.

It is a positive sign, yet it is reminded of nasty memories of the past. Many families are continuing to search for relatives abducted by the LRA, and the scars of the war still linger. But hope also exists that this new development will provide closure and lead to a better future. The Joseph Kony and LRA narrative is a tragic one in the history of Uganda, yet it is one of hope and resilience. The northern Ugandans have been remarkably resilient despite unimaginable tragedy. They have fought hard to rebuild their communities and lives, and they continue to struggle for peace and justice.

As Ruth Achan and her children settle into their new life in Gulu, they will have the opportunity to participate in this healing and re-creation. Their return home is a confirmation that even through the worst of times, there is always possibility for new life. It is a statement of the possibility of forgiveness and human ability to rise above even the most adversity. Uganda has made a great deal of progress since those dark days when the LRA was terrorizing the country, but there remains much to do.

The fact that the government is trying to reintegrate LRA members and their families back into society is a significant factor in this achievement. By healing the wounds of the past and striving for a more peaceful present, Uganda is showing the rest of the world how it’s done. The return home of Joseph Kony’s family is not just a story of one individual or one family. It is a story of a country’s reconciliation journey to peace, justice, and healing. It is a story of hope, determination, and the unwavering faith that regardless of obstacles, there is a better tomorrow.