The Masaka High Court Justice Lawrence Tweyanze has adjourned the bail hearing for jailed National Unity Platform (NUP) legislators Allan Sewanyana MP Makindye West and Muhammed Ssegirinya MP Kawempe North due to poor internet connection.
Justice Lawrence Tweyanze extended the hearing for thirty minutes after the zoom link failed to connect to Kigo Prison where the MPs are remanded.The Court is today set to hear a bail application for jailed MP’s via zoom technology.
Court was by 10 am filled to capacity with various opposition Mp’s like Hon Nyeko Derrick ,Makindye East Mp,Francis Zaake , Mityana Municipality ,relatives among others .
Both Members of Parliament face seven counts of murder, attempted murder and aiding and abetting terrorism in relation to the recent spate of killings in the Greater Masaka area.
This is the second time that the MPs are applying for bail following their re-arrest outside Kigo Prison two weeks ago on separate days. The duo was granted bail on Monday September 20, asked to pay UGX 20million cash bail and UGX 100m non-cash but arrested again. According to security forces, the MPs were detained at the Special Investigations Division, Kireka to answer to fresh charges of murder.
The Legislators then appeared before the Masaka Chief Magistrate, Charles Yeteise where they were charged with the murder of one Joseph Bwanika.
The prosecution states that Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana caused the death of Bwanika, a resident of Kisekka B village, Kankamba parish in Lwengo District on August 2, 2021.
The prosecution (state) also amended the old charge sheet to include one more suspect, Jackson Kanyike, who was being financed to commit acts of terrorism by murdering locals in the greater Masaka area.
This brings to seven, the total number of charges against the MPs and their co-accused.
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Segirinya and Ssewanyana were arrested on Tuesday September 7 on charges of murder and terrorism in connection to the Masaka murders.The State claims that the opposition legislators facilitated and instigated the machete murders in Greater Masaka region that left at least 30 people dead.
President Yoweri Museveni has since criticized the courts of law for granting bail to opposition legislators.
Their Lawyers Erias Lukwago and Shamim Malende say despite Judges shunning to hear the bail applications,they intend to get bail for the embattled legislators on grounds that their health is deplorable and they seem to show signs of torture.
