Juliet Harty Hatanga, the ICD Deputy Registrar told Uganda Radio Network in an interview on Wednesday that the closure of the defence hearing is a significant milestone in the trial of Kwoyelo which had dragged on since 2019.
Florence Akello Owinji, the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions told the court Wednesday that 53 state witnesses have so far been presented in the trial and noted they were closing witness submissions.
Kwoyelo faces 67 Charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity before the International Crimes Division ICD of the High Court. He has been in detention at Luzira Maximum Prison since he was captured by the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces-UPDF in 2008.
He faces 12 Confirmed counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity and 53 alternative charges for crimes allegedly committed during the insurgency in northern Uganda. They include willful killing, kidnap with intent to murder and destruction of property among others.
The pre-trial hearing of criminal case against former top Lords Resistance Army commander Thomas Kwoyelo is postponed to September 21st as two state lawyers are appointed to handle the case.
Muyita told URN, that although the court has enough money for the usual cases, it requires at least 400 million to try Kwoyelo under the International Crimes Division. During the trial, all judges under the International Criminal Division will be moved to Gulu for a period of not less than one month.
