MASAKA: The Masaka Magistrate’s Court has turned down a request by MPs Allan Ssewanyana (Kawempe North) and Muhammad Ssegirinya (Makindye West) to be released on bail.
Masaka Grade One Magistrate Christine Nantegge on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, denied bail to the two MPs after the state attorney said investigations into their case are still incomplete.
The duo has been committed to the High Court for trial in connection to last year’s killings in Greater Masaka.
But the Resident State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka told court that investigations into the case are not complete to allow the state to commit them to the High Court.
But the MP’s lawyer, Shamim Malende, argued that since her clients have been on remand for a long period of time (September 2021), they need to be granted bail.
Ssegirinya also told the court that his children have not yet reported back to school since he is the sole signatory to his bank account.
“Your Worship, we also want to go for treatment and take care of our families. We are aware that the law permits court to grant us bail since we have been on remand beyond the mandatory 180 days. So, we pray that court grants us bail which is permitted by the law,” he said via a video link from Kitalya prison.
But the magistrate Nantegge said: “Court is aware of the accused person’s right to bail, but the court has no jurisdiction to grant bail before expiration of this period and prosecution has informed court that investigations are likely to be completed soon and the committal papers are likely to be ready on the next adjournment date.”
She adjourned the matter to March ,10 2022 for further mention of the cases .
This came hours after Ssegirinya’s mother, Justine Nakajumba, walked to Parliament for the second time, asking for the release of her son.
A tearful Nakajumba said she has tried to seek the release of her son in vain.
“Last time I came with a letter requesting to see the Speaker but didn’t see him. I do not sleep well, I want my son to be released, I beg of you,” she said.
Police officers at Parliament calmed her down and took her to their offices. It was not immediately clear whether she would be taken to meet the Deputy Speaker Anita Among.
Prosecution states that the two legislators together with other suspects -some on remand and others still at large on August 2, 2021 allegedly killed Joseph Bwanika, a resident of Kisekka Village in Kisekka Sub County in Lwengo District.
It is further alleged that on August 23 at Ssettaala Village in Masaka City, the MPs and their co-accused persons killed Francis Mugerwa Kiiza aka Nswa, Sulaiman Kakooza and Tadeo Kiyimba .
The MPs are also accused of attempting to kill Ronald Ssebyoto, a resident of the same area.
They are also accused of financing the killings in the Greater Masaka region.