KAMPALA- After spending 10 years on remand without trial, the International Crimes Division (ICD) of the High Court in Kampala has finally set September 24 as a day to begin full hearing of the case in which former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel commander Thomas Kwoyelo alias Latoni is facing 93 counts.
Kwoyelo is charged with murder, hostage-taking, kidnap with intent to murder, pillaging, aggravated robbery, cruel treatment, violation of personal dignity, torture and rape, among others.
He is to face a panel of three justices led by Duncan Gaswaga as required by the law.
Other justices are: Moses Mukiibi and Micheal Elubu.
Kwoyelo was born in Acut Cama Ceri Village, Pabbo Sub-county in Kilak in the present day Amuru district in northern Uganda.
According to the evidence presented at the pre-trial stage, Kwoyelo underwent basic military training that saw him quickly raise through the LRA ranks to become a colonel, a rank he held at the time of arrest.
He is alleged to have committed the crimes between 1992 and 2005 when he was a military commander in the LRA and held several positions including commander of operations, director of military intelligence and being in charge of LRA sick bays.
Prosecution states that at the commencement of the trial, they will adduce evidence to prove the charges against Kwoyelo. The pieces of evidence include postmortem reports on the victims, police reports and other documents, photographs, correspondences, written statements of witnesses and newspaper extracts.
Kwoyelo was captured in the forests of Central African Republic in 2009 and has since been on remand at Luzira prison, the same place he has returned to yesterday until he appears before the trial panel.
