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The trial of former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo was halted on Thursday morning due to his deteriorating health.

Kwoyelo, 49, is accused of committing several offenses (78 counts), including murder, attempted murder, pillaging, aggravated robbery, rape, cruel treatment, kidnap with the intent to murder, inhumane acts, outrage upon personal dignity, and enslavement.

He allegedly committed the crimes between 1993 and 2005 in some areas in Pabbo and Lamogi sub-counties in Amuru district.

On Thursday, he had carried on with his unsworn testimony seemingly okay inside the courtroom in Gulu city.

But a few minutes to 11am, he requested the International Crimes Division (ICD) court to grant him a water break and also rest briefly to allow his rising blood pressure to stabilize.

He said the blood pressure shot up due to talking too much.

Justice Michael Elubu granted his prayer and adjourned the session until 11:30am.

However, the court session had hardly resumed when Kwoyelo’s defense lawyer, Charles Dalton Opwonya, requested court to halt the trial over the deteriorating health of his client.

According to him, they received an instruction from the accused that he needed medical checkup since he was not feeling well.

“My lords, court is as it was, but we cannot proceed with the trial because the accused is not well," said Opwonya.

"It is, therefore, our prayer that the accused be taken to a health facility at the prison or a public health facility for a medical checkup."

Another defense lawyer, Caleb Alaka, placed the same request before the judges.

“If the medical personnel are of the view that the accused person stands trial immediately, then we can proceed tomorrow [Friday] because now that we have begun the trial, we should finish it,” said Alaka.

When the judges sought the views of the prosecution team over the matter, Charles Richard Kamuli, on behalf of the prosecution, gave no objection to that effect.

This prompted Justice Michael Elubu to adjourn the court session until Friday morning.

Defense lawyer Evans Ochieng told New Vision moments after the adjournment that Kwoyelo is battling ulcers and blood pressure and that before the court was adjourned, he was unwell.