Former LRA top commander Kwoyelo back to prison
Jan 09, 2012
Former Lord Resistance Army (LRA) rebel commander, Col. Thomas Kwoyelo has been returned to Luzira prison.
By Pascal Kwesiga
Former Lord Resistance Army (LRA) rebel commander, Col. Thomas Kwoyelo has been returned to Luzira prison after a court ruling on his application challenging his detention was not delivered.
The International Crimes Division (ICD) of the High Court in Gulu ceased the trial of Kwoyelo last year following a constitutional court ruling that he was entitled to amnesty.
The ICD however did not order for the release of Kwoyelo and referred the matter to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) and Amnesty Commission.
The DPP, Richard Butera in his November 17, 2011 letter to Amnesty Commission said Kwoyelo could not be released from jail because he had pending charges that rendered him ineligible for amnesty.
Kwoyelo, through his lawyers, filed an application in High Court seeking orders to compel DPP and amnesty commission to grant him amnesty and issue him with an amnesty certificate.
The former rebel chief on Monday appeared before the Kampala High Court chief magistrate, Mutazindwa Katorogo who told him that the ruling on his application could not be delivered because the presiding judge, Vincent Zehurikirize was attending an ongoing week-long judges’ conference.
Mutazindwa informed the former rebel commander that judgment on his application would be delivered next week.