Ssegirinya finally gets bail
The Buganda Road Grade One Magistrate’s Court has granted a cash bail of one million shillings to the ailing Kawempe North Mp Muhammed Ssegirinya in a case of inciting violence.
His sureties Thomas Bagonza and Apollo Ariho have each been bonded 10 million shillings non cash .
The legislator appeared before Grade One Magistrate Her Worship Olga Karungi via Zoom technology from Murchison Bay Prison in Luzira where he is currently detained and admitted on treatment.
Ssegirinya who appeared stronger and spoke more audibly pleaded with the presiding Magistrate to grant him bail on grounds that he needed to access further treatment away from the Prison’s medical facility.
He explained to Court that he needs to do a scan on his legs that have continued to rot despite the treatment he was administered at the hospital.
His lawyer Shamim Malende told court that the charges preferred against the accused legislator are bailable and the matter is still pending trial.
She explained that the State has not presented any evidence before the court or any previous evidence of conviction involving the charge of inciting violence on Ssegirinya.
Ssegirinya finally gets bail
Malende stated that the Ssegirinya is a right thinking member of society and has never had a record of skipping bail.
“The state has submitted that since the accused has other charges in Masaka, then he should not be granted bail. But your Worship, we find that as an absurd submission because the state has not cited any precedent that if the accused faces other charges he is not entitled to bail, each case should be determined on its own merit and bail each application the same.” she said
In her ruling, Her Worship Olga Karungi granted the accused bail on grounds that the case is bailable, his sureties are substantial and he needed to access specialized medical care. ,
“The accused person had previously shown court his rotting feet, he was visibly sick and all court documents were submitted ,even the prison has on several occasions failed to produce the accused in court on medical grounds, as such I find that the accused has satisfied this court with the bail application. “She read in her ruling
The Prosecution alleges that between August and September 2020 while in Kampala, Ssegirinya alias Mr Update made statements on his Facebook page “Ssegirinya Muhammad Fans Page ” calculated to incite the public to participate in violence against a section or group of Ugandans.
He is quoted by the Prosecution to have posted. “I am warning those who are trying to assassinate Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu that what will happen will be forty times worse than the 1994 Rwandan genocide”.
The Kawempe North Mp showed the Buganda Road Magistrates Court rotting wounds on his right leg body shortly after denying new charges of inciting violence in mid October.
Hon. Ssegirinya Muhammad’s mother Justine Nanfuma on Tuesday stormed Parliament to petition the Speaker Rt Hon Jacob Oulanyah about her son’s condition.
She pleaded for mercy claiming Ssegirinya was badly off, and she hasn’t been given a chance to see him.
The case has been adjourned to December 20,at 9 am ,when it comes up for mention.
Compiled by Rashidah Nakaayi
