Kwoyelo's Relatives Cry for Justice as War Crimes Trial Begins

Relatives of the former commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army, Thomas Kwoyelo, have cried that justice should prevail as he becomes the first suspect to be tired before the recently established war crimes court.

 

Ben Lapyem, an Uncle to the former rebel commander, says that his niece is also a victim of the LRA rebel’s abduction. He recalls that his niece was abducted by the LRA rebels from their village at Ocitaka village, Perecu parish in Amuru Sub County around 1987.

 

He observes whereas Kwoyelo is being charged with abduction and murder of several people, he does not hold him individually responsible, arguing that the atrocities were committed by the rebels as a group.

 

Lapyem says  that his niece should be honest before court ,so that he is forgiven and released. He says he has not seen his niece since he was abducted in 1987, adding that government restricted access to Kowyelo to only his mother, Rosalina Lalum and his brothers: George Abedowoko and Moses.

 

Lapyem explains that Kowyelo was a primary six pupil at Langeta primary school in Atiak Sub County when he was abducted by the rebels.

 

However, not much is said about the former rebel commander in his village he is popularly referred to as Kapere. When URN set out to visit Kwoyelo’s village yesterday, the village mates appeared skeptic with almost everyone cautious and reluctant to accept to speak about him.

 

Although the relatives said they were aware about Monday's  trial, many said they would not attend the court session because they did not have the means to travel to Gulu for the trial. The former LRA commander’s village is located in Amuru district, about fifty kilometers North West of Gulu town where the court will sit.

 

Kwoyelo will become the first former LRA rebel to go before the recently established War Crimes Court among the former LRA commander facing war crimes charges for atrocities they allegedly committed during the over two decade war between the rebels and the government in northern Uganda.

 

While he was initially charged with 12 counts of kidnap with intent to murder, Kwoyelo’s charges were amended to 12 counts of willful killing, extensive destruction of property and causing serious bodily harm.

 

Other senior commanders: Joseph Kony, Okot Odhiambo, Vincent Otti and Dominic Ongwen are facing similar counts before the International Criminal Court.

 

Monday's  trial has attracted much public interest especially in northern Uganda, where the rebels operated.

Tadeo Asiimwe, the registrar of the War Crimes court, admits that the high public interest in the region is the reason they have opted to take the trial to Gulu, so that the people in the former war torn area where the rebels committed atrocities can attend  the session.

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