Court denies NUP MPs bail
The High Court in Masaka has denied bail to the two embattled National Unity Platform legislators, Muhammad Ssegirinya, Kawempe North, and Allan Ssewanyana, Makindye West.
In his ruling at a virtual hearing this morning, High Court Judge Lawrence Tweyanze denied the legislators bail on two grounds: the duo are influential members of society and will jeopardise ongoing investigations; the crimes committed were capital in nature and the accused can easily escape.
Justice Tweyanze also stated that the medical conditions that the Legislators face can be handled by health facilities within Luzira and Kigo Prisons where they are currently detained.
However, their lawyer Erias Lukwago, says they will appeal against the bail ruling at a higher Court. Lukwago says Justice Tweyanze was inconsiderate not to consider the medical condition of the MPs, especially for Ssegirinya who recently displayed rotten feet in Court.
Court denies NUP MPs bail
“What shocked us was the Judge taking the issue of sickness lightly. Ssegirinya’s leg is rotting, they were re-arrested harshly and tortured, it is on record. He is not bothered to know what they are really suffering from. What if Ssegirinya has cancer? So this decision goes against the rights of my clients and therefore we have started the appeal process.”
Lukwago says the same courts of law granted cash bail to the MPs prior to their re-arrest, for which they paid 20 million shillings and presented substantial sureties.
“The applicants paid their 20m shillings each to court, it is on record and fulfilled all the bail requirements. So does it mean that [the] Court is just going to take their money? Secondly, his arguments (Justice Tweyanze) were not satisfactory, like when he said the MPs will jeopardize investigations because of their influence in society, or that they can run away if granted bail. If that is the case, then the state has to produce evidence to [support] these claims…”
The MPs who face seven counts of murder and attempted murder in connection to the recent killings in the Greater Masaka Sub Region were recently re-arrested and remanded.
Lukwago insists that his clients ‘‘suffer from chronic illness, bodily harm sustained in the course of being rearrested and cannot get proper medical care while in custody yet the offences are bailable even at a higher Court.
He further said the legislators are law abiding citizens with permanent places of abode, substantial sureties and are ready to abide by any bail conditions that court will impose on them among others.
