Kwoyelo Victims and Lawyers Frustrated by Govt’s Reluctance to Compensate
Frustration is growing among defense lawyers for convicted former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) colonel Thomas Kwoyelo and representatives of his victims over the Attorney General’s unwillingness to take responsibility for compensating the victims of Kwoyelo’s crimes
Kwoyelo, convicted in October 2024 and sentenced to 25 years in prison, was found guilty of crimes that left 103 victims in need of reparations.
Defense lawyer Caleb Alaka argued that since Kwoyelo is indigent, the government should shoulder the responsibility of compensation.
“Kwoyelo will likely die in prison, leaving victims with no recourse. The victims and witnesses brought here in pursuit of justice are now being abandoned by the Attorney General,” Alaka told the court.
The Attorney General’s team, led by Johnson Natuhwera, countered that such a move would set a harmful precedent, allowing criminals to evade accountability by passing their obligations onto the state.
Jane Magdalene Amooti, a victims' advocate, insisted that reparations are a state responsibility under international law.
“The primary obligation may rest with the convict, but the state has a duty to repair the lives of victims. The Attorney General’s skepticism overlooks this international legal principle,” Amooti explained.
The hearing was adjourned to December 16, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Deputy Registrar Juliet Harty Hatanga clarified that this was a special reparations hearing held post-trial to address compensation.
She added that the victims' counsel had submitted an application for reparations.
The panel of judges, led by Justice Michael Elubu, rejected an amicus curiae application from the International Center for Transitional Justice, citing a lack of neutrality.
However, the court accepted a similar application from the Foundation of Justice and Development Initiative to participate as a friend of the court.
The question of who bears the responsibility for victim compensation remains unresolved, leaving victims and their advocates in a prolonged wai for justice.
