Former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for war crimes. This sentence, handed down on October 25, 2024, marks the first time an LRA member has been tried and convicted within Uganda, signaling a shift towards accountability for the group’s brutal, decades-long insurgency. For victims and survivors, this trial represents a long-awaited step toward closure and justice.
Founded in the 1980s by Joseph Kony, the LRA is infamous for its violent tactics, including the abduction of children, forced conscription, mass killings, and terrorization of rural communities in Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. Kony and his lieutenants, including Kwoyelo, spread terror across the region, with tens of thousands of children abducted and forced into soldiering or sex slavery.
Thomas Kwoyelo’s story is tragically emblematic of the LRA’s operations. He was abducted at the age of 12 while walking to school and coerced into the group’s violent ranks. He rose to command positions, where he oversaw numerous atrocities across northern Uganda and beyond.
Kwoyelo’s case has faced numerous delays and complexities. Originally captured in 2008, his trial only began in earnest over a decade later, underscoring the hurdles Uganda faced in pursuing justice for crimes committed during the LRA insurgency. His defense argued that he, like so many others, was a victim of abduction and indoctrination. But prosecutors maintained that Kwoyelo eventually became a key player in orchestrating violence, responsible for murder, rape, torture, and other heinous crimes.
In August, Kwoyelo was convicted of 44 counts, including crimes against humanity, and found not guilty of three counts of murder. Thirty-one additional charges were dismissed. The case was heard by a panel of four judges, and Justice Duncan Gasagwa emphasized that Kwoyelo’s role as a commander held him accountable for planning and carrying out actions of “extreme gravity,” which left survivors with deep physical and psychological scars.
For many Ugandans, particularly in the north, this conviction is a powerful step toward justice. Communities torn apart by the LRA’s violence have long sought accountability and redress. But the trial has also reignited debates on the delicate line between accountability and rehabilitation. Some argue that former child soldiers like Kwoyelo were both victims and perpetrators, coerced into lives of violence with little choice.
The Ugandan government and the international community have supported the Kwoyelo trial as part of a broader effort to address atrocities committed during the LRA conflict. The trial represents a milestone for the country’s judicial system, which has often struggled to prosecute crimes of such scale and complexity.
The Kwoyelo verdict sets a precedent for Uganda’s justice system in handling war crimes and human rights abuses, but it also points to the need for continued support for survivors. The atrocities committed during the LRA insurgency left deep wounds that Uganda must continue to address through trauma support, community reintegration programs, and initiatives to build lasting peace.
Thomas Kwoyelo’s conviction brings a long-awaited sense of justice to survivors of the LRA’s terror, reaffirming Uganda’s commitment to addressing past atrocities. As the country moves forward, this landmark trial symbolizes both the cost of conflict and the enduring resilience of communities affected by violence. In the words of Justice Gasagwa, the sentence may not erase the pain but serves as a significant step toward national healing and accountability.