Thomas Kwoyelo, a former mid-level commander of the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Friday for a litany of war crimes, including murder, rape, enslavement, torture, and kidnapping.
Kwoyelo’s conviction marks a significant milestone in Uganda’s pursuit of justice for the victims of the LRA’s decades-long reign of terror.
He was found guilty of dozens of war crimes in August, becoming the highest-ranking LRA official to be tried and convicted by a Ugandan court.
The LRA, under the leadership of Joseph Kony, inflicted immense suffering on the people of northern Uganda for nearly two decades.
The group’s brutal tactics included mass killings, rapes, abductions, and the maiming of civilians.
Justice Duncan Gasagwa, one of the presiding judges, emphasized the gravity of Kwoyelo’s crimes, stating that he played a significant role in the planning and execution of these atrocities.
The judge noted the lasting physical and psychological trauma suffered by the victims.
While Kwoyelo escaped the death penalty due to factors such as his age at the time of recruitment and expressed remorse, his conviction sends a strong message that those responsible for such heinous crimes will be held accountable.
Kwoyelo’s lawyer, Caleb Alaka, has indicated that they will appeal both the verdict and the sentence.
The LRA’s influence has waned in recent years, with many of its members surrendering or being killed.
However, Joseph Kony remains a fugitive, and the group’s remnants continue to pose a threat to regional stability.
The conviction of Thomas Kwoyelo represents a step forward in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the LRA.
It also serves as a warning to other perpetrators of war crimes that they will not escape the law.
