The International Crimes Division of the High Court, Gulu City, declared on Monday that Thomas Kwoyelo, the former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander, is required to answer to 78 charges. Kwoyelo, also known as Latoni, was initially accused of 93 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Captured in 2009 by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, he holds the record for one of the lengthiest pre-trial detentions in the history of International Criminal Justice.
The trial commenced on September 24, 2018, with the first prosecution witnesses testifying in March 2019. However, trial sessions have occurred intermittently between Kampala and Gulu, and to date, 48 prosecution witnesses have been heard.
The protracted duration of the trial was discussed during the launch of the judicial bench book on the criminal adjudication of international crimes in Uganda in August. Principal Judge Dr Flavia Zeija attributed the delay to the unique procedures of the International Crimes Division of the High Court and insufficient funding. She expressed optimism about the case’s conclusion, stating that they have reached the stage of “no case to answer.” Zeija highlighted that the prolonged trial was a result of Kwoyelo contesting the trial initially, which reached the Supreme Court’s approval, and the distinctive procedures used by the court.
The LRA, a rebel group originating in Uganda and involved in conflicts in the Central African Republic, faces accusations of numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity. Renowned for employing brutal tactics, including the recruitment of child soldiers, the LRA’s atrocities have garnered international attention.
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