Uganda: Court’s decision a setback for accountability for crimes committed in northern Uganda conflict

The five-judge panel held that Thomas Kwoyelo, a former Commander with the rebel Lords Resistance Army (LRA), was entitled to amnesty for any crimes he may have committed during the longstanding conflict between the LRA and the government’s forces, – the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces. [...] He was charged under the provisions of the Geneva Conventions Act, 1964 and the Penal Code Act. [...] Kwoyelo with crimes against humanity or war crimes under the provisions of the International Crimes Act of 2010 because the law could not be applied retroactively. [...] Kwoyelo then applied for a stay of the trial proceedings pending the determination of his application to the Constitutional Court on the ground that his trial before the High Court infringed on his constitutional rights to fair treatment. [...] Amnesty International has repeatedly called on the government of Uganda to fulfil its obligations under international law to investigate and prosecute all crimes committed before competent, impartial and independent courts in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty; to ensure that the truth about the crimes is told; and to provide full and effective reparations to the victims to address