Thomas Kwoyelo, a former commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), is scheduled to learn the outcome of his war crime charges on July 12, 2024.
This crucial date marks when the court is anticipated to announce its decision regarding the matter, concluding a significant chapter in the legal proceedings.
The International Crimes Division of the High Court, sitting in Gulu, finalized the hearing on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, and designated the upcoming date for the judgement after Kwoyelo concluded presenting his defense.
The panel of judges overseeing the case includes Michael Elubu, Duncan Gaswaga, and Andrew Bashaija, who presided over the courtroom proceedings.
Throughout the trial, Kwoyelo was supported by a team of legal representatives comprising Dalton Opwonya, Caleb Alaska, Evans Ochieng, and Borris Anyuru. Opposing them, the prosecution was represented by William Byansi, Florence Akello, Charles Kaamuli, and Lillian Omara.
Present in the courtroom were also counselors representing the victims, Henry Komakech and Jane Magdalane, adding another layer of legal perspective to the proceedings.
In his defense, Kwoyelo refuted allegations of direct involvement in killings, asserting that his role within the LRA was primarily focused on managing the organization’s medical facilities and providing treatment to the injured combatants.
The charges against Kwoyelo stem from a total of 93 accusations related to war crimes committed in northern Uganda during the period spanning from January 1995 to December 2005.
However, following a ruling by the International Crimes Division court justices on December 13, 2023, Kwoyelo was found to have a case to answer in 78 of the charges brought against him.
Among the offenses under scrutiny are violations against the Geneva Convention as outlined in the Geneva Convention Act, charges of crimes against humanity, and other violations specified under the penal code Act, among others.
Kwoyelo’s capture by the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces occurred in the Garamba forest located in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2005, marking a significant event leading to his subsequent legal proceedings
