The High Court in Uganda is set to deliver a judgement on Thomas Kwoyelo, a former commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) after more than 15 years of delay. Kwoyelo, accused of numerous war crimes, is the first LRA member to be tried in Uganda, making this a historic moment for the country. He has denied the charges against him.
Kwoyelo was captured in 2009 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has been in detention for the past 14 years as the prosecution built its case. His defence team argues that he was forcibly conscripted into the LRA as a child and should be granted amnesty like other former child soldiers. However, victims of Kwoyelo’s alleged crimes are calling for justice.
The LRA, founded by Joseph Kony in 1984, was known for its brutal attacks on civilians in northern Uganda, as well as the abduction of thousands of children to serve as soldiers or sex slaves. Kony remains in hiding since an ICC arrest warrant was issued against him in 2005.
Amnesty was offered to LRA members who surrendered in 2000, but some argue that this has hindered the prosecution of war crimes. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and rights groups have called for accountability for perpetrators like Kwoyelo. Despite the complexities and delays in the trial, there is a push for justice to be served for the victims of the LRA.
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