The Buganda Road Magistrate’s court has further adjourned a case of inciting violence against the Kawempe North MP, Ssegirinya Muhammad.
Court was expected to start hearing the case in which Ssegirnya is accused using his Facebook page to threaten a massacre similar to that in the neighboring country if his party president was not released.
However, the hearing failed to proceed because the presiding Magistrate Siena Owomugisha didn’t show up or nor leave anyone in his seat.
The frustrated MP also failed to appear in court for the second time in person or via zoom technology.
Ssegirinya’s relatives were also absent from the court room that was visibly empty.
His lawyers Geoffrey Turyamusiima, Shamim Malende and Medard Ssegona were all present for the hearing which never set off.
Speaking moments after court adjourned the matter to November 18, 2022, Turyamusima expressed dissatisfaction with the court process saying the presiding Magistrate should have at least appointed a substitute for the matter to proceed.
The charge stems from a statement that Ssegirinya posted on his Facebook page threatening security forces for trying to assassinate the leader of the National Unity Platform Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine.
In the post, Segirinya cautions that the aftermath of any such action would be 40 times worse than a massacre in a neighboring country years ago.
On February 23, the court heard from Juliet Naiga, a news editor at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation who transcribed a video containing the same information and concluded that it tantamounts to inciting violence.
Although he had been granted bail, Ssegirinya has remained in detention on a separate charge for which he is facing trial jointly with Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana.
Compiled by Rashidah Nakaayi
