The trial of former LRA rebel Commander Thomas Kwoyelo has resumed today before the International Crimes Division of the High Court sitting in Gulu.
Kwoyelo failed to secure bail last week before the International Crimes Division of the High Court same court as his sureties failed to show up.
Kwoyelo had lined up the Kilak South MP Gilbert Oulanya, Kilak North MP Anthony Akol and Amuru District Woman MP Lucy Akello as some of his sureties.
Kwoyelo’s trial for the 93 counts that stem from the atrocities he allegedly committed in the 20 years of the LRA war in the Northern Uganda will kicked off at 9:00am
Judges Jane Kiggundu Duncan Gaswaga and Michael Elubu are presiding.
Kwoyelo’s case is the first war crimes trial in the history of Uganda, and the ICD has had to create new rules of procedure that allow for victim participation and other requirements that arise out of Uganda’s international law commitments.
“This case is the first to be tried under the new ICD rules of procedure. As party to the Rome Statute, the ICD answers to the principles of complementarity. This ruling has broken new grounds, necessitating the ICD to innovate and create new rules of procedure,” explained Justice Kigundu.
In relation to Kwoyelo’s 93 charges, Justice Kigundu noted that, “The court found that the prosecution had established sufficient evidence and confirmed all of the charges. The court now has to examine evidence to establish Kwoyelo’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”
Kwoyelo’s trial has without doubt attracted the attention of the public and has been described as historic by one of the judges. “This is the case of the century,” said Justice Gaswaga. “We are writing history. We have new rules of procedure which makes it an interesting case as we look for justice.
