Oulanyah warns judiciary over Kwoyelo case

Nov 06, 2013

Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, has said that the court process subjected the former LRA warlord, Thomas Kwoyelo, over whether he is eligible for amnesty or not, is a clear case of judicial instability.

By David Lumu

Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, has said that the court process subjected the former LRA warlord, Thomas Kwoyelo, over whether he is eligible for amnesty or not, is a clear case of judicial instability.

“In Uganda today, with the Kwoyelo case going on, there is a judicial instability as far as amnesty is concerned,” he said.

Speaking at the National Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration conference in Kamapla, Oulanyah also warned lawyers against challenging the Amnesty Act 2000 advising that doing so would jeopardize the much needed surrender of the rebels, especially LRA and ADF.

“Those going to court to challenge the Amnesty Act should give us a break. If UPDF supports this Act, who are you? These people should know that here we deal with real issues and people—not the theoretical debates,” he said.

Parliament enacted the Amnesty Act in 2000 as a way to encourage rebels to come back home from the bush.

According to Nathan Twino, the Principle Legal Officer at the Amnesty Commission Uganda, when he visited Kwoyelo in Luzira prison, the ex-LRA rebel asked for amnesty and he gave him the forms to fill.

“However, the DPP (Directorate of Public Prosecution) opened up a file against Kwoyelo before we could finish the process of amnesty for him. What followed then were his lawyers running to the Constitutional Court to challenge the actions of the DPP. Court ruled in Kwoyelo’s favour, but government appealed. We are now waiting for the Supreme Court ruling on the matter,” he said.

Kwoyelo was the first LRA rebel to go on trial for crimes against humanity committed during his time in the rebel group. He is now in Luzira.

Oulanyah now advises that what Ugandans need to grasp is how to strike a balance between mechanisms on how to get people out of violence and keeping them out of violence.

“The process of Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) as I understand it means that we need to treat these people as individuals and address the reasons why they decided to go to the bush and why they have decided to denounce the rebellion,” he said.

 

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