KAMPALA –The National Unity Platform party – NUP leader, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine broke the silence on the released MPs-Allan Ssewanyana and Muhammad Ssegirinya – saying he was extremely happy that the two legislators had gained their freedom but quickly distances himself from reports of how the opposition had held negotiations with government -leading to the duo’s liberty.
The Masaka High court on February 13 released the two legislators-who had spent more than 16-months on remand in Kigo Prison-on a Ugx20m cash bail. The MPs are accused of being behind the spate of machete killings of at least 26 people in the greater Masaka region in 2021.
“I am very happy that after such a long period of detention without trial, the two leaders – MPs Allan Ssewanyana and Muhammad Ssegirinya – are out of Kigo Prison on bail.
“I am very grateful to all leaders, lawyers and comrades who-for the past one and a half years, have visited them in prison, attended court sessions, spoken out against their illegal detention, supported their families, prayed for them,” noted Bobi Wine – adding that he hadn’t seized the opportunity to meet or even speak with the two MPs.
“Ordinarily, when our comrades are freed from illegal detention -we speak with them and that enables us to understand better the circumstances of their abduction or arrest, what happened to them in detention, the circumstances of their release, as well as the general state of their health,” he said.
He revealed that the legislators’ families had separately told him that the two were still undergoing treatment – disclosing further that he knew nothing related to negotiations that had led to the duo’s release.
“If anyone took part in any negotiations to secure court bail for detainees -they did so without my knowledge or endorsement,” he said – relaxing his stance – staying dialogues involves – a give and take deliberations.
“We have nothing to give to (President Yoweri) Museveni in exchange for our rights. The biggest thing Museveni would need in exchange is to stop fighting his regime of blood and shame and we are not about to stop doing that,” he vowed.
The former presidential candidate insisted that their position remained that they must not beg Museveni for his regime to grant them their God-given rights.
“The suggestion that one needs to negotiate with Museveni to get bail, which should be entirely a court process, is not only shameful but ridiculous.
“Unfortunately, that is what our country has been reduced to! Impunity, lawlessness, and disregard for institutions normalised,” he insinuated.
Bobi Wine’s statement below;
Greetings fellow Ugandans, I have seen some people asking for my comment on the release of our comrades, Hon. Allan Ssewanyana and Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya.
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I am very happy that after such a long period of detention without trial, the two leaders are out of Kigo Prison on bail. I am very grateful to all leaders, lawyers and comrades who for the past one and a half years, have visited them in prison, attended court sessions, spoken out against their illegal detention, supported their families, prayed for them, etc.
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We have not yet spoken about this comprehensively because we have not yet had the opportunity to see or speak with the two MPs. Ordinarily, when our comrades are freed from illegal detention, we speak with them and that enables us to understand better the circumstances of their abduction or arrest, what happened to them in detention, the circumstances of their release, as well as the general state of their health. For now, their families have told us that they are still undergoing treatment. We shall be in position to speak out better after interacting with them.
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I have noted the insinuations that the two MPs were released after negotiations with Gen. Museveni and that they made some compromises and undertakings.
LET ME BE CATEGORICAL that I do not know about any such negotiations, and if anyone took part in any negotiations to secure COURT BAIL for detainees, they did so without my knowledge or endorsement. Our position remains that we must not beg Gen. Museveni and his criminal regime to grant us our GOD GIVEN rights. The suggestion that one needs to negotiate with Museveni to get bail, which should be entirely a court process, is not only shameful but ridiculous. Unfortunately, that is what our country has been reduced to! Impunity, lawlessness and disregard for institutions normalised. Secondly, negotiations involve give and take considerations. We have nothing to give to Museveni in exchange for our rights. The biggest thing Museveni would need in exchange is to stop fighting his regime of blood and shame and we are not about to stop doing that. We hope that in the coming days, we shall be able to interact with the two MPs and guide the nation on the way forward. FOR NOW the question the regime has failed to answer for all this time is; WHO KILLED THE PEOPLE OF MASAKA AND WHY?
