Lawyers representing former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Commander, Thomas Kwoyelo, accused of crimes against humanity, are set to start interviewing witnesses as part of the defense preparation. The Deputy Registrar of the Nakasero-based International Crimes Division of the High Court, Juliet Harty Hatanga, revealed in an interview on January 17, 2024, that the defense team would initiate witness interviews on January 19.
In a letter dated January 10, 2024, addressed to all parties involved in the case, Hatanga outlined that from January 19 to January 26, 2024, the defense lawyers, accompanied by the prosecution, would travel to Gulu City, Pagak, and Lamogi to interview Kwoyelo’s witnesses. The purpose of these interviews is to gather witness testimonies for presentation in court.
Following the court’s ruling on December 18, 2023, determining that Kwoyelo had a case to answer, he expressed his intention to call 50 witnesses. The defense team, consisting of Caleb Alaka, Geoffrey Anyuru, and Dalton Opwonya, will work towards preparing a robust defense for Kwoyelo.
A panel of four judges, including Michael Elubu, Duncan Gaswaga, Stephen Mubiru, and Dr. Andrew Bashaija, presides over the case. According to Hatanga, Kwoyelo is scheduled to commence his defense in mid-February. The defense team is required to provide the prosecution with all necessary evidence they intend to use.
Kwoyelo, arrested by the Ugandan Army in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in March 2008, faces multiple charges of war crimes, including sexual violence, murder, kidnap, robbery, and pillaging. His alleged offenses occurred between 1993 and 2005 in Pabbo and Lamogi sub-counties in Amuru district. Despite Kwoyelo’s application for amnesty under the Amnesty Act of 2000, which was rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions, his trial commenced in September 2018, and he has been in remand since his arrest.
