The protracted trial of Thomas Kwoyelo, accused of participating in the two-decade war in Northern Uganda, entered a new phase as court officials and defense lawyers visited his home in Acema Village, Ceri Parish, Amuru District. Kwoyelo’s trial has been in the court system for nearly 15 years.
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, a convoy of over ten cars arrived at Kwoyelo’s homestead, where small grass-thatched huts stood apart. Accompanied by counter-terrorism police, the visitors were greeted with African hospitality, and the hosts provided benches and mats for interactions under the shade of trees.
Kwoyelo’s mother, Roselina Oyella, and his elder brother, Pastor George Abedo, were among the family members present. Despite initial reluctance to eat the food brought by the visitors, defense lawyer Caleb Alaka reassured the hosts of the government’s goodwill, convincing them to partake in the meal.
The outreach, organized by the registrar of the International Crimes Division of the High Court, Juliet Hatanga, aimed to identify potential witnesses for Kwoyelo’s defense. The team included justices Susan Okalany and Richard Wabwire Wejuli, Kwoyelo’s defense team, led by Alaka and Charles Dalton Opwonya, and the prosecution team.
Justice Wabwire expressed apologies for the lengthy trial, assuring that the matter would conclude by mid-year. Kwoyelo’s mother, after receiving assurances about witness confidentiality, expressed willingness for her other sons to participate in selecting defense witnesses.
Defense counsel Alaka pledged to protect Kwoyelo’s witnesses, and Kwoyelo’s pastor brother Abedo, as the eldest in the family, committed to supporting his younger brother during the upcoming defense hearing scheduled to start next month.
During a court session on Friday, Alaka informed the court that Kwoyelo plans to present 50 witnesses in his defense, and the defense team is ready to start from February 5. The court ruled on December 18, 2023, that Kwoyelo would defend himself on 78 counts, including crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other serious offenses.
The outreach aims to facilitate the identification and interview of potential witnesses before the Gulu High Court as part of the defense preparation. Kwoyelo’s trial encompasses allegations related to the Joseph Kony war, causing over 100,000 casualties and displacing more than 1.5 million people in Northern Uganda.
