By Hilary Nsambu

AN international human rights watchdog has protested a court’s decision to release Col. Thomas Kwoyelo, a former commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

Amnesty International on Friday said the Constitutional court’s order was a setback to the delivery of justice to the victims of human rights violations.

“What we are witnessing here is pervasive impunity for crimes and human rights violations. It is high time Uganda carried out an investigation into all crimes committed during the 20-year conflict. Neither Thomas Kwoyelo, nor others accused of committing war crimes should be granted amnesty,” the rights body said.

Ending the country’s first war crimes trial, a five-judge panel ruled that Kwoyelo was entitled to amnesty for any crimes he committed during the conflict, in which 30,000 people died and some two million were displaced. Kwoyelo had been charged with 53 counts of murder and other crimes.

The Attorney General (AG) has said he would appeal against the Constitutional Court’s decision. In a notice of appeal that was filed in the Court of Appeal Court on Friday, the AG, Peter Nyombi, said he would appeal against the decision.

Thomas Kwoyelo was charged with murder, willful killing, kidnap with intent to kill, aggravated robbery and destruction of property and other offences during an attack he allegedly commanded in northern Uganda’s Amuru district during the conflict that began in 1986. He denied the charges.

Thousands of former LRA soldiers have benefited from Uganda’s Amnesty Act of 2000.

“The Act is against Uganda’s obligation not to grant amnesty to those suspected of crimes under international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity,” Amnesty International said.

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