A Ugandan court has mandated the government to pay up to $2,740 to each victim of convicted Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo. In October, Kwoyelo received a 40-year prison sentence for war crimes, including murder, rape, enslavement, and torture. However, due to his “indigent” status, the court deemed him unable to compensate the victims. Consequently, the court held the government accountable, citing its failure to protect citizens from the LRA’s atrocities. Additional compensation was awarded for property destruction and theft caused by Kwoyelo’s actions. The LRA, led by Joseph Kony, terrorized Uganda for two decades, committing heinous acts such as abductions and mutilations. After fleeing to jungles in neighboring countries, remnants of the group remain active, even though it has diminished in power. Kwoyelo, captured in 2009, became the first senior LRA member convicted in Uganda, marking a significant milestone in justice for victims.
SOURCE: REUTERS