Kwoyelo's trial resumes at Gulu High Court

Thomas Kwoyelo speaks in the dock with his wife Christine Auma at Gulu High Court on Monday. Photo by Julius Ocungi.

What you need to know:

  • The charges were confirmed by Justice Suzan Okalany on August 30.
  • The court had earlier fixed November 5 to start hearing Kwoyelo’s case from Gulu High Court but the Judiciary changed the date today.
  • Kwoyelo's trial was adjourned on September 25 this year after his lawyers led by Mr Charles Dalton Opwonya, told the judges that the State had served them [defence team], a copy of poorly translated Luo version of the charges and that they were not ready to go ahead with the scheduled hearing on that day.

The trial of former Lord’s Resistance Army commander Thomas Kwoyelo resumes today at the International Crimes Division (ICD) sitting in Gulu High Court, Gulu District.

Mr Kwoyelo is today expected to appear before ICD judges Jane Kiggundu, Duncan Gaswaga and Michael Elubu for plea taking.

The three justices are expected to read all the 93 counts of crimes slapped against Kwoyelo that he allegedly committed in Pagak Internally Displaced People’s Camp in Amuru district between 1993 and 2005.

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The charges were confirmed by Justice Suzan Okalany on August 30.

The court had earlier fixed November 5 to start hearing Kwoyelo’s case from Gulu High Court but the Judiciary changed the date today.

Kwoyelo's trial was adjourned on September 25 this year after his lawyers led by Mr Charles Dalton Opwonya, told the judges that the State had served them [defence team], a copy of poorly translated Luo version of the charges and that they were not ready to go ahead with the scheduled hearing on that day.

Last week, Kwoyelo's bail application hearing also failed to kick off after his sureties didn’t turn up at the ICD

The sureties included; Mr Gilberet Olanya of Kilak South counstuency, kilak north legislator Anthony Akol, Amuru woman Mp Lucy Akello and Mr Lubel Olanya.

The trial judge later adjourned the hearing of the bail application to November 15 at Gulu High Court.

Kwoyelo is the first ever to be tried before a domestic court with regard to the conflict in northern Uganda between the Lord Resistance Army and the Government of Uganda.

He was captured in 2009 in the Central African Republic forest by UPDF and has since then been in remand at Luzira Maximum Prison.

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