Thomas Kwoyelo: Ugandan LRA rebel commander on trial

Summary:

• The trial of Thomas Kwoyelo, a former child soldier turned LRA commander, has started in Uganda, marking a significant moment for the country’s judicial system. Kwoyelo faces over 90 charges, including murder and child soldier recruitment.

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The much-anticipated trial of Thomas Kwoyelo, a former child soldier turned commander in the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), has commenced in Uganda. Kwoyelo faces over 90 charges, including murder, rape, and the enlistment of child soldiers. This marks a pivotal moment for Uganda’s judicial system, as he becomes the first LRA commander to be prosecuted in a Ugandan court.

Having spent the last 14 years in pre-trial detention, Kwoyelo’s case is noted for its complexity and the extensive nature of the alleged crimes. In a court appearance in 2011, he denied all charges against him. The LRA, led by Joseph Kony, emerged in Uganda over two decades ago, claiming to fight for a government based on the Ten Commandments.

Known for gruesome acts such as mutilating individuals and abducting children for soldiering and sexual exploitation, the LRA initially operated in northern Uganda before extending its activities to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Kwoyelo was arrested in 2009, and later to the Central African Republic.

The trial is taking place at the International Crimes Division of the High Court in Gulu, considered Uganda’s equivalent to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Despite previous pre-trial hearings, the case has faced numerous postponements. Multiple witnesses are expected to testify, recounting their experiences before the court.

Human Rights Watch has criticized the delays in the case, citing a broader lack of accountability for crimes committed during the 25-year conflict, including abuses by Ugandan state forces. In 2021, Dominic Ongwen, a senior LRA commander, was sentenced to 25 years by the ICC, opting for a lesser sentence due to his abduction as a child and manipulation by rebels who killed his parents.

Kwoyelo claims he, too, was abducted by LRA fighters in his early teenage years while walking to school. While thousands of former LRA members have been granted amnesty under Ugandan law, Kwoyelo was denied this option, leading to accusations of political motivations behind the decision.

As the trial progresses, concerns arise about potential funding shortages causing further delays in delivering justice for the alleged victims of Kwoyelo’s actions.