MASAKA –There was excitement at the Masaka High Court premises this morning after the state – in a surprise move – announced the withdrawal of its objection to a bail application in a case where legislators; Allan Ssewanyana of Makindye West and Kawempe North’s Muhammad Ssegirinya are facing charges of masterminding murders in the area.
Ssewanyana and Ssegirinya appearing before court through a video link asked court to be released on bail.
When the matter came up on Monday morning, the state withdrew its objection to the application – as chief state attorney, Richard Birivumbuka told court that the DPP had issued a certificate of no objection – subsequently asking that the three affidavits filed against the same bail application be withdrawn.
The state attorney, however requested court for a ‘substantial amount of cash’ to be imposed on the two legislators if court was to release the MPs on bail.
Justice Lawrence Tweyanze has since adjourned the court session to 2:00pm when he is expected to issue the final ruling on the bail application. However, all indications proved that the two legislators were headed for released – as the slightest hiccup lied with at least the two sureties – in Ali Mulyanyama the mayor of Makindye Division and Florence Namayanja of Masaka – whose document lack LCI letters.
Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana are accused alongside five others including Mike Sserwadda, Jude Muwonge, Bull Wamala, John Mugerwa and Jackson Kanyike of murdering Joseph Bwanika.
They are accused of murder, attempted murder, aiding and abetting terrorism stemming from the 2021 spate of killings in Masaka and Lwengo districts of Greater Masaka region.
In the wave of murders, unknown assailants using machetes killed at least 20 people in the area.details here, https://www.unntimes.com/masaka-court-release-mps-ssewanyana-ssegirinya-on.-bail/
