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The International Crimes Division of the High Court has scheduled April 15, 2024, as the commencement date for hearing the case involving former Lord Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo, who faces accusations of war crimes.
A notice signed by deputy registrar Juliet Hatanga states that the hearing will start at 9:00 am on the specified date. The notice also warns that if there is no appearance by the concerned parties, the case will proceed and be decided in their absence.
The defence lawyers representing Kwoyelo include Dalton Opwonya, Caleb Alaska, Evans Ochieng, and Borris Anyuru. On the other hand, the victims’ counsel consists of Henry Komakech and Jane Magdalane. The prosecution is represented by William Byansi, Florence Akello, Charles Kaamuli, and Lillian Omara.
During the last court session, Kwoyelo’s defence lawyers revealed their intention to present former rebels as witnesses to defend him against the war crime accusations. They requested the court to provide a safe platform for witness protection, emphasizing the need to ensure the safety and anonymity of the witnesses.
In response to this request, Justice Michael Elubu, along with Justices Duncan Gaswaga and Andrew Bashaija, notified the parties that the Judiciary permanent secretary Pius Bigirimana had secured resources to facilitate the session in Gulu. The court aims to ensure a fair trial for Kwoyelo as he begins his defence.
Kwoyelo faces a total of 93 charges related to war crimes allegedly committed in northern Uganda between January 1995 and December 2005. However, on December 13, 2023, the International Crimes Division Court justices ruled that Kwoyelo must answer to 78 of these charges.
Among the charges Kwoyelo is facing are violations against the Geneva Convention under the Geneva Convention Act, charges against humanity, and charges under the Penal Code Act. Kwoyelo was captured by the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces in the Garamba forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2005.