https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240814/historic-conviction-former-lra-commander-found-guilty-of-crimes-against-humanity-in-uganda-1067858440.html
Historic Conviction: Former LRA Commander Found Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity in Uganda
Historic Conviction: Former LRA Commander Found Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity in Uganda
Sputnik Africa
The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a Christian extremist group founded by Joseph Kony in 1987, fought Uganda’s President Museveni's rule alongside groups like... 14.08.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-08-14T18:57+0200
2024-08-14T18:57+0200
2024-08-14T19:13+0200
sub-saharan africa
uganda
east africa
south sudan
yoweri museveni
democratic republic of the congo (drc)
international criminal court (icc)
united nations (un)
death toll
death
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The Ugandan High Court's International Crimes Division (ICD) convicted former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo of 44 out of 78 charges. The charges, announced by lead judge Justice Michael Elubu, included murder, rape, and abduction, while several other charges were dismissed.Kwoyelo, abducted by the LRA at age 12 and later becoming a commander, had been jailed since 2009 pending this verdict. Arrested in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, his initial trial began in 2011 but was delayed multiple times due to legal challenges and an appeal. Kwoyelo’s case involved 53 prosecution witnesses and four defense witnesses, including legal experts to handle the extensive evidence.Defense lead counsel Caleb Alaka requested more time to prepare for sentencing and to engage other stakeholders. Deputy public prosecutor William Byansi stressed the need for a sentence proportional to the nature of Kwoyelo's offenses.The LRA terrorized regions in Uganda, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic, leaving over 100,000 dead and 60,000 children abducted, according to the United Nations. Though the civil war ended in 2006, Kony remains at large, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Human Rights Watch has highlighted the importance of accountability for LRA victims. This trial follows the 2021 sentencing of LRA commander Dominic Ongwen by the ICC to 25 years in prison.
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uganda, east africa, south sudan, yoweri museveni, democratic republic of the congo (drc), international criminal court (icc), united nations (un), death toll, death, terrorism, terrorists, court sentence, justice, trial
uganda, east africa, south sudan, yoweri museveni, democratic republic of the congo (drc), international criminal court (icc), united nations (un), death toll, death, terrorism, terrorists, court sentence, justice, trial
Historic Conviction: Former LRA Commander Found Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity in Uganda
18:57 14.08.2024 (Updated: 19:13 14.08.2024) The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a Christian extremist group founded by Joseph Kony in 1987, fought Uganda’s President Museveni's rule alongside groups like the Allied Democratic Forces, the Uganda National Rescue Front, and other military groups. The LRA still operates in Central and East Africa, seeking a "multi-party democracy" in Uganda.
The Ugandan High Court's International Crimes Division (ICD) convicted former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo of 44 out of 78 charges. The charges, announced by lead judge Justice Michael Elubu, included murder, rape, and abduction, while several other charges were dismissed.
Kwoyelo, abducted by the LRA at age 12 and later becoming a commander, had been jailed since 2009
pending this verdict. Arrested in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, his initial trial began in 2011 but was delayed multiple times due to legal challenges and an appeal. Kwoyelo’s case involved 53 prosecution witnesses and four defense witnesses, including legal experts to handle the
extensive evidence.Defense lead counsel Caleb Alaka requested more time to prepare for sentencing and to engage other stakeholders. Deputy public prosecutor William Byansi stressed
the need for a sentence proportional to the nature of Kwoyelo's offenses.
“Our father has been mistreated since he went to court, and we didn’t expect much other than to convict him because all signs were there that he will not receive justice,” one of Kwoyelo’s sons, Moses Rackara, was quoted by the French media as saying regarding his father's verdict.
The LRA terrorized regions in Uganda, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic, leaving over 100,000 dead and 60,000 children abducted, according to the United Nations. Though the civil war ended in 2006, Kony remains at large, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Human Rights Watch has highlighted the importance of accountability for LRA victims. This trial follows the 2021 sentencing of LRA commander Dominic Ongwen by the ICC to 25 years in prison.
