Former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel commander Thomas Kwoyelo, also known as Latoni, revealed that he has enlisted 50 witnesses to defend himself against 78 charges related to alleged civilian killings during the two-decade insurgency in Uganda’s northern region. Kwoyelo, represented by lawyers Caleb Alaka and Evans Ochienge, appeared before Deputy Registrar Juliet Harty Hatanga to disclose his defense strategy.
Kwoyelo’s legal team plans to conduct outreach camps in Gulu to screen and finalize their witnesses by February 5, 2024. The former rebel commander is facing charges including murder as a crime against humanity, pillaging, violence to life, outrage against personal dignity, and cruel treatment, among others.
Last month, a panel of four justices, led by Michael Elubu of the International Crimes Division Court in Gulu, ordered Kwoyelo to defend himself after the prosecution closed its case, presenting 53 witnesses. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) alleges that Kwoyelo, who rose through the LRA ranks to become a colonel, committed the crimes between 1992 and 2005 when he held various positions within the rebel group, including commander of operations, director of military intelligence, and overseeing LRA sick bays.
The charges against Kwoyelo include accusations of carrying out widespread killings of civilians, abductions, and property destruction in Kilak. One specific incident cited in the indictment occurred on September 5, 1994, or thereabout, when Kwoyelo allegedly commanded an armed attack in Abera village, Parubanga Parish, Pabbo Sub-county in Kilak. During this attack, Kwoyelo and his forces reportedly tortured, maimed, and abducted numerous civilians.
The evidence provided by the DPP includes postmortem reports, police reports, photographs, correspondences, written statements from witnesses, and newspaper extracts.
