SSewanyana, Ssegirinya put up a fight in Court
Jailed National Unity Platform legislators on Thursday spat fire in court after the state asked for more time to amend their charge sheet.
Allan Ssewanyana, MP Makindye West and Muhammad Ssegirinya MP Kawempe North spoke in protest while appearing before Masaka Grade One Magistrate Christine Nantege, for plea taking via zoom technology from Kigo Government Prison.
The duo has been in jail for six months since they were re-arrested in September last year on charges related to attempted murder, murder and terrorism that happened in the Greater Masaka Sub-region between July and August 2021.
The Mps are expected to be committed to Masaka High Court for trial of their case once the charge sheet is conclusive and committal papers are ready, but that is yet to happen.
State Prosecutor Richard Birivumbuka, the Masaka Resident Chief State Attorney asked court for more time to amend the charge sheet before committal papers can be ready. He explained that if one more adjournment was made, the State would be prepared enough to commit the jailed MP’s to High Court.
The State’s submission didn’t ogre well with the fuming MP’s who had earlier expressed optimism that their case was progressing. They both petitioned the Magistrate to overlook the matter saying it is a deliberate strategy to keep them locked up for much longer.
Ssewanyana accused the State Attorney of acting unprofessional by proposing to make amendments in the charge sheet in a case file on which they were rearrested. He wondered why the State had to wait this long to amend the charge sheet. Ssewanyana begged the State Attorney to discuss with his lawyer to have them granted bail while they continue with investigations.
SSewanyana, Ssegirinya put up a fight in Court
Ssegirnya on the other hand pleaded with both the court and the state to allow them be released on bail, to allow them to attend to urgent demands that include accessing specialized medical care they have failed to get in prison.
Their lawyer Shamim Malende says she was equally shocked by the state’s request as she expected to have the suspects committed to High Court.
However, the presiding Magistrate granted the last adjournment to March 23rd.
Tears in Court
Following the adjournment, the court room was turned into a scene of tears and sorrow as relatives to the incarcerated Mp’s expressed disappointment.
The most outstanding yells came from Ssegirinya’s mother Justine Nakajumba who cried uncontrollably and threatened to commit suicide over her son’s plight.
Nakajumba pointed fingers the State Attorney yelling while accusing him of forging charges against her son until security personnel escorted her out of court.
