MP advises Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana’s families to apologize to Museveni for pardon

By Rachael Najjuma

13^th Oct 2022

The International Crimes Division of High Court has declined to grant the application where two National Unity Platforms – NUP legislators Allan Ssewanyana and Mohammed Ssegirinya were seeking for a constitutional reference in the matter where they are charged with murder and terrorism.

In their application through their lawyers led by the city Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, the accused were challenging the two decisions made by this very court where it allowed the state to have 15 witnesses testify in camera and the application where court declined to consolidate the two files against the legislators.

In her judgment, Justice Alice Komuhangi has highlighted that there isn’t anything to interpret in the constitutional court regarding the question of protection of witnesses since the constitutional court itself left such a matter in the discretion of the trial court to determine the terms of disclosure.

Regarding the issue of consolidation of files, the trial judge Komuhangi has revealed how no human rights violations were made contending that the two files which needed to be consolidated have different accused persons and as such they can’t be joined together thus dismissing this ground as well.

In their arguments, the accused had revealed how the said witnesses were factual and their evidence might have directly implicated the accused leading to the violation of their rights and further stated that they wanted to know the constitutionality of parallel proceedings.

Samuel Muyizi, the Lawyer for the accused has revealed how disappointed they are with the judgment and have pledged to fight for the rights of the accused till the end.

Court has set the November 7 for further pre-trial hearing.

The accused that include the Makindye West Member of Parliament Allan Ssewanyana, Kawempe North MP Mohammed Ssegirinya and others including Jackson Kanyike, John Mugerwa, Bull Wamala, Mike Sserwadda, and Jude Muwonge who wasn’t committed to high court are charged on three counts of murder, attempted murder and terrorism charges allegedly committed in August 23, 2021, at Ssetaala and Ssenya villages in Kimanya-Kabonera division, Masaka City.

Among those present in Court on Thursday was the Kalungu County West MP Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu who has advised parents to the two accused MPs to seek for an appointment to apologize to President Museveni for their children to be pardoned.

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