Kwoyelo denies all 78 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity

24 April 2024, 9:52 am

Emmy Daniel Ojara

Gulu

The former LRA fighter, Thomas Kwoyelo has denied all 78 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity levied against him by the government.

The crimes that contravene the Geneva Convention and Penal Code Act were reportedly committed on the civilian population of northern Uganda while Kwoyelo was a commander in the LRA rebel group.

He is facing the charges before a panel of four judges at the International Crimes Division (ICD) of the High Court held in Gulu High Court.

The defense trial started on Monday last week.

On Tuesday Kwoyelo described the charges as baseless marred with falsified information from witnesses to penalize him.

He told the court that he was never a war commander in the jungle but rather medical personnel whose primary role was to treat patients at the sick bay and never led any attack or war.

Kwoyelo noted that everything that happened in the bush was commanded by rebel leader, Joseph Kony.

……………..Kwoyelo/Luo/Eng

Kwoyelo accused some witnesses of lying that they grew up with him, studied with him, and even went for leisure with him, yet he was still a very young boy at that time.

In his first defense against the murder of one Albert Obwoya in 1993, Kwoyelo told the court that at that time he was an escort to one Lapwony (teacher) Ocii who was in charge of the sick bay adding that he could not lead any operation and attack.

He disclosed to the court that his first promotion to the rank of Captain was in 1999 from Jebelen in South Sudan.