The Ugandan High Court’s International Crime Division (ICD) is preparing its witnesses after it was cleared by the Supreme Court to try Mr Thomas Kwoyelo, a former commander in the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
The trial of Mr Kwoyelo is the first such case before the Ugandan High Court’s International Crime Division (ICD) started in 2011 after the court was established to try crimes of international nature in 2008.
Justice Moses Mukiibi, the head of the ICD while addressing the press at Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) media facility in Gulu town on Thursday said they are ready to proceed with the case.
He however did not specify the date saying it will be anytime soon.
Justice Mukiibi revealed that they have started to meet witnesses in regards to the cases of Crime against Humanity and War Crimes that the state has brought against the former LRA commander.
Justice Mukibi noted that, “Charges against Mr Kwoyelo are not political offences that can attract amnesty under the Amnesty Act. They are war crimes under the Section 147 of the Geneva Convention Act.”
He adds that, “Such offences are grave since there were killings of unarmed civilians, burning of houses, rape and looting of food stuff.”
The head of the International Crime Division also revealed that the state will facilitate Mr Kwoyelo’s defense team.
Mr Kwoyelo was charged with war crimes, including murder and kidnapping in various locations in Northern Uganda on 11 July in Gulu but he has denied all the charges.
His legal team headed by Mr Onyango Owor of Onyango & Company says they are ready to proceed.
Mr Kwoyelo is accused of attacking an internally displaced persons camp in Pagak in Amuru district where several civilians were killed between 1992 and 2005, laying ambushes along the Gulu-Juba road, destroying civilians’ property and abducting children in Awer, Bira, Oputure and Pogo villages.
In August 2010, he was charged with willful killings, hostage taking and extensive destruction of property in Amuru and Gulu districts.
