A Ugandan court has ordered the government to compensate the victims of Thomas Kwoyelo, a former commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), with payments of up to $2,500 each. This ruling comes after Kwoyelo was found guilty in August of multiple crimes against humanity for his role in the infamous militia, marking the first such trial in Uganda.
In October, Kwoyelo was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his involvement in the LRA’s brutal actions. However, on Monday, the court in Gulu, northern Uganda, ruled that Kwoyelo was unable to provide compensation to the victims and placed the responsibility on the Ugandan government instead.
The panel of judges, consisting of four members, stated that the atrocities committed by Kwoyelo were a direct result of the government’s failure to prevent the crimes. This failure, they argued, triggered the state’s obligation to pay reparations to the victims.
The LRA, founded by Joseph Kony, a former altar boy and self-proclaimed prophet, waged a violent insurgency against President Yoweri Museveni’s government in the 1980s. The conflict resulted in over 100,000 deaths and the abduction of 60,000 children, with the violence spilling over into several neighbouring countries.
The court ordered that each of the 103 registered victims receive four million Ugandan shillings (roughly $1,100), with victims of rape and sexual violence receiving an additional five million shillings (approximately $1,360).
Government representatives at the court opposed the ruling, arguing that there was no legal basis for holding the state accountable. They suggested that the funds should instead come from a trust fund set up by the International Criminal Court for victims.
Henry Komakech Kilama, a lawyer for the victims, cautiously welcomed the court’s decision. However, he noted that the amount awarded was less than expected, although he saw it as a significant step against impunity.
Kwoyelo, who has already served 15 years in prison since his capture in 2009, was convicted of murder, torture, rape, and kidnapping during his time with the LRA.
