The International Criminal Division Court has ordered the immediate release of Kawempe North Mp Ssegirinya Muhammed from the Kigo government prison.
This follows a petition previously filed by Ssegirinya’s lawyers Erias Lukwago and Shamim Malende seeking a substitution of sureties for the jailed legislator.
The Lawyers sought to replace Mityana Municipality, MP Hon. Zaake Francis who is currently out of the country with another substantial surety Hon. Nsanja Patrick, MP Ntejeru South.
Court presided over by Justice Suzan Okalany in her judgment allowed the request for substitution and has granted the accused bail.
Justice Okalany stated: ”I have constituted the application and all supporting affidavits, the respondent didn’t file any affidavit in reply. the state has no objection to the accused’s surety whose particulars were availed to the state in advance. Counsel Omala(prosecutor)says the terms imposed on the previous surety be maintained with the proposed surety. Hon Nsangi is a law-abiding citizen”
She confirmed: ”The applicant(Hon Ssegirinya ) will as soon as the surety makes the same undertaking as the previous from prison be released,I will not make an order that he be released because the High court judge in Masaka already gave the order and granted him bail.”
However, Erias Lukwago one of the lawyers representing him has expressed fear that Ssegirinya may be re-arrested like his colleague Makindye West Mp Allan Ssewanyana .
He explained ” Our concern is in regard to what is going to happen after we have filed the release order to prison.you all witnessed what happened on Thursday when his colleague was released,the Court order may be rendered inconsequential. We talked to the Justice here and she expects the relevant government authorities and security agencies to respect a court order . We expect they should behave in a civilized manner.”
Malende has been sent to Kigo prison to serve Ssegirinya’s release order while Lukwago has rushed to the Special Investigations Unit-SIU in Kireka where Ssewanyana is, to record his statement.
The embattled Mp together with Allan Ssewanyana MP (Makindye West) were on Tuesday this week granted cash bail of 40 million shillings each after close to two weeks on remand at Kigo prison.
They also presented 3 sureties each including Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, Veronica Nanyondo (Woman MP Bukomansimbi District), and Francis Katabaazi (Kalungu East) and Francis Zaake (Mityana Municipality), Christine Nandagire Ndiwalana (Bukomansimbi North), and Robert Walugembe, a brother to Ssegirinya.
However, Ssegirinya’s release was frustrated by Court after one of his sureties Mityana Municipality MP Hon Francis Zaake went out of the country on other duties and failed to sign his release order papers.
This left his lawyers with only one option to file another application seeking Court to substitute Hon.Zaake with Hon.Nsanja, which was done at the International Criminal Division on Friday.
Compiled by Rashidah Nakaayi
