Court sets March 20, to rule on Kwoyelo’s bail application

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The International Crimes Division of the High court will on March 20, deliver its ruling on a bail application by Thomas Kwoyelo, a former commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army-LRA.  The Court is trying Kwoyelo for 93 Counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

On Monday, Kwoyelo formally asked the Court to grant him bail to allow him to enjoy temporary freedom at home after 10 years on incarceration. In his affidavit, Kwoyelo said that he has never had any freedom since he was kidnapped by the Lord’s Resistance Army while in Primary three in 1988.

He presented four sureties including Kilak South Member of Parliament Gilbert Olanya alongside his younger sister Margaret Auma, nephew Bosco Omony and Alfred Olanya Lubel – a retired teacher who also served as a Parish chief.

One of his lawyers Charles Dalton Opwonya told the court that Kwoyelo would like to use the bail to support his ageing mother, wife and six children financially and emotionally. He said MP Gilbert Olanya had offered to host the accused at his residence throughout the duration of the trial.

The other lawyer Caleb Alaka said that the accused is committed to abiding by the conditions of the bail. He said the accused should be restricted to Gulu district in case court feels he might interfere with witnesses which have been disclosed to him.

Komakech Henry Kilama, the Counsel for Victims asked the court to decide whether to grant the accused bail or not.   But Prosecution objected to the bail application saying three of the sureties are junior to the accused to compel him to attend court in the event that he decides to skip. They said they are also worried about the safety of the accused and witnesses that have been disclosed to him.

Charles Richard Kamuuli, an Assistant Director of Prosecutions asked the court to deny the accused bail for lack of a fixed place of abode. He said Kwoyelo has no social attachment to his community having been in captivity of the Lord’s Resistance Army for almost all his life.

Justice Persis Kiggundu, the Chairperson of the trial panel set March 20, to rule on the bail application.

******

URN