KAMPALA –It’s still a mystery how and why legislators-Allan Ssewanyana and Muhammad Ssegirinya-whom the Masaka High Court granted a Ugx20m-cash bail each, on Monday were not handed to their attorneys but secretly and separately driven to different locations.
Impeccable sources reveal that prison authorities at Kigo released the two legislators – immediately the Masaka Court judge-Lawrence Tweyanze made a ruling in regard to the bail application.
Uganda Prison Spokesperson, Frank Baine had told a local television on Monday night that the two legislators had been freed – soon after court in Masaka had ordered.
And indeed when a team of the two legislators’ attorneys – under the command of Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago arrived at Kigo prison at around 10:30pm – to specially pick their clients- but authorities told them how the two legislators had already been delivered to their respective relatives’ homes.
“Today, together with our leaders we were able to attend a court session of honourable Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana in their bail application…. ”We later drove at around 5:30pm from Masaka to Kigo Prison where we had to take the paperwork from the court for their release.
“Unfortunately we reached there at around 10:30pm and we delivered the documents -until when they told us that they have already released them where each one was driven to his family,” revealed one of the National Unity Platform – NUP sympathiser, adding that Ssegirinya was taken to her mother’s place (in Mengo) while Ssewanyana was dropped in Masulita.
The sympathiser’s account correlates well with an on-going version of how President Yoweri Museveni had tasked his brother – Caleb Akandwanaho aka Salim Saleh to execute a deal – leading to the release of the two legislators.
“What happened in Masaka (Court on Monday) – was a mere formality. The deal had already been reached – with Justice Minister (Norbert Mao), Speaker of Parliament – Annet Anita Among, and Leader of Opposition-LoP, Mathias Mpuuga playing a big role.
“In fact the Speaker – AAA ferried the group to state House to meet the president – late in the night last week- and somehow some people with loose lips tried to leak details of the meeting – that’s how (Robert Kyagulanyi) Bobi Wine learnt that Mpuuga had rounded him up,” revealed a State House source.
The source added that Mpuuga had played a big role in the release of the two legislators to an extent that his appearance in full lawyers’ gown at the Masaka Court was part of the plan.
“So after accomplishing his mission in Masaka – he (Mpuuga) simply retired. Did you see him at Kigo? Because he knew that the MPs had long been released and driven to locations he had personally suggested. For instance, it was co-incidence that Ssewanyana was taken to Masulita – He had to meet Salim Saleh..,” added the source.
Back at Kigo – Lukwago who arrived in the company of other lawyers as well as a sizeable number of seemingly unruly fans – said he was shocked on learning from prisons’ authorities the legislators had been driven to their respective choices.
Lukwago – later on Tuesday confirmed that both legislators had actually been driven their respective relatives’ home – with Ssewanyana delivered in Masulita while Ssegirinya was at her mum’s place in Mengo.
Lukwago, however added that due to Ssewanyana’s worsening ill-healthy – he had been taken to hospital for further medical treatment – which facility he couldn’t reveal – but only added that Ssegirinya too, was bound to go for a medical check-up.
The two MPs spent 16 months in detention on charges related to murder, attempted murder, aiding and abetting terrorism stemming from the 2021 spate of killings in greater Masaka.
Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana are accused alongside five others including Mike Sserwadda, Jude Muwonge, Bull Wamala, John Mugerwa and Jackson Kanyike.
Nice report keep it up