Fate awaits Kwoyelo as court closes case hearing

______________

Former Lord Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo will know his fate on war crime charges on July 12, 2024.

It is on this day when the court is expected to deliver its verdict on the matter.

The International Crimes Division of the High Court, sitting in Gulu, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, set the date for judgement after Kwoyelo closed his case.

The court was presided over by justices Michael Elubu, Duncan Gaswaga and Andrew Bashaija.

Kwoyelo gave his defence under the guidance of lawyers Dalton Opwonya, Caleb Alaska, Evans Ochieng and Borris Anyuru. The prosecution was represented by William Byansi, Florence Akello, Charles Kaamuli and Lillian Omara.

Also in court were the victims’ counsel Henry Komakech and Jane Magdalane.

In his defence, Kwoyelo denied killing anyone, saying he was in charge of the LRA sickbay, giving treatment to the wounded.

Offences

Kwoyelo was indicted with 93 charges relating to war crimes in northern Uganda allegedly committed between January 1995 and December 2005.

However, on December 13, 2023, the International Crimes Division court justices ruled that Kwoyelo has a case to answer in 78 cases against him.

Kwoyelo is battling several offences including violations against the Geneva Convention under the Geneva Convention Act, Charges against humanity, Charges under the penal code Act, among others.

Kwoyelo was captured by Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces in the Garamba forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2005.