Uganda: 40 years in prison for a former LRA commander
A Ugandan court on Friday sentenced Thomas Kwoyelo, a former commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), to 40 years in prison for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The verdict marks a historic first in the country, where no leader of the armed group has ever been tried for such acts.
An emblematic trial for LRA victims
Abducted at the age of 12, Kwoyelo was described by the court as a mid-level commander, directly implicated in numerous atrocities. The conviction aims to bring justice to the victims of the LRA, a rebel group infamous for its abuses in central Africa since its creation in Uganda in the 1980s, and which has perpetrated violence for nearly 30 years.
Conclusion
This judgment is a crucial step for Ugandan justice and for survivors of LRA violence, setting a precedent in the prosecution of those responsible for serious crimes
