Former LRA Commander Convicted of War Crimes

Thomas Kwoyelo, a former commander of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), has been convicted of 44 out of 78 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity by a Ugandan court. This landmark ruling, delivered in Gulu, marks a significant moment in Uganda's judicial history as he is the first LRA commander to be tried domestically for such atrocities. Kwoyelo's charges include murder, pillaging, and enslavement, stemming from the LRA's brutal insurgency in northern Uganda that lasted over two decades. Despite his conviction, the sentencing date remains unclear, and there are ongoing concerns regarding the adequacy of justice for victims of the LRA and Ugandan state forces. Joseph Kony, the notorious leader of the LRA, remains at large, with a $5 million U.S. reward for information leading to his capture. Human Rights Watch has criticized the lengthy delays in Kwoyelo’s trial, reflecting broader issues of accountability for wartime crimes in Uganda.