MP Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana ask court to allow them seek constitutional interpretation on murder charges

By Rachael Najjuma

10^th Oct 2022

The two National Unity Platform-NUP legislators Allan Ssewanyana and Mohammed Ssegirinya have asked the International Crimes Division court to allow them go to the constitutional court for a constitutional review in the matter where they are charged with murder and terrorism.

The matter had come up on Monday for further pre-trial hearing, however the legislators’ counsels led by the Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago failed an application  seeking for a constitutional review in the two decisions made by this court where it allowed state to have 15 witnesses testify in camera and the application where court declined to consolidate the two files against the legislators.

In their arguments, they say that the said witnesses are factual and their evidence may directly implicate the accused, leading to the violation of their rights and further stated that they want to know the constitutionality of parallel proceedings.

In their reply, the state has objected to this application saying witness protection isn’t alien to this court and it is provided for and regarding the consolidation they say they still object to it because the application was brought in bad faith already by the cornered parties and that the application hasn’t justified any kind of violations.

The matter has been fixed for ruling on October 13^th, 2022 by the trial Judge Alice Komuhangi.

The accused who include Allan Ssewanyana, Mohammed Ssegirinya, 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.

These charges were allegedly committed on August 23, 2021, at Ssetaala and Ssenya villages in Kimanya-Kabonera division, Masaka City.