By Rachael Najjuma
13th Feb 2023
Two legislators Allan Ssewanyana of Makindye West and Mohammed Ssegirinya of Kawempe North who have been in prison for One year and five months have been finally granted bail.
The legislators have been released on a cash bail of Shs 20 million each and Shs 50 million for each of the sureties non cash.
The sureties included the Mayor for Masaka City Florence Namayanja, Bagonza Thomas Councilor for Kawempe Division, Kalungu County West MP Ssewungu Gonzanga and former Lubaga North MP Kasibante Moses.
The case at the Masaka High court presided over by Justice Lawrence Tweyanze, reasoned with the lawyers of the two legislators that it is their constitutional right for the two to be released on bail but to also enable them to get treatment outside prison.
Justice Tweyanze also ordered the accused to deposit their passports and to report to the registrar of the International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala once a month but also warned against interfering with investigations into their cases.
The lawyer to the accused Elias Lukwago has welcomed the move although, tough in nature since in the first instance the court still ordered the accused to pay Shs20 million in cash for their bail which was overran when security operatives re-arrested them.
Hope to release the MPs was gained earlier in the day when the Senior state attorney, Richard Birivumbuka told court that the Director of Public Prosecution DPP issued a certificate of no objection to the bail application therefore requiring them to withdraw the 3 affidavits they had filed against the application.
The jailed MPs, who have been on remand since September 7th 2021, are accused of being behind the wave of killings by machete-wielding gangs in the Greater Masaka area.
The prosecution claims that the MPs, Wilson Ssenyonga and others still at large, during the night of August 2, 2021, at Kisekka B Village in Lwengo District, with malice aforethought, unlawfully killed Joseph Bwanika.
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