Dominic Ongwen was born in the town of Lamogi, in the Gulu district in Uganda. His birth date is unknown.
Ongwen was commander of the Sinia Brigade, one of four brigades of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel group that terrorises the civilian population in Northern Uganda. He was part of the "Control-altar" the organ in charge of the LRA’s military strategies.
As brigade commander, Dominic Ongwen is accused of participating in a violent campaign targeted against the civilian population which was ordered in mid 2002 by Joseph Kony.
In the context of this campaign, about 2'200 people were allegedly murdered and 3'000 abducted. The campaign brought about the plundering and destruction of villages and refugee camps. The violence was directed indiscriminately at men, women and children. It involved the enforced recruitment of child soldiers and sexual violence against girls.
