Court Sets Date for Trial of Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana after State Completed Investigations Pinning NUP MPs

Prosecution has concluded investigations into allegations of National Unity Platform (NUP) MPs Allan Ssewanyana (Makindye West) and Muhammad Ssegirinya (Kawempe North) who face murder, attempted murder and terrorism charges.

The charges against Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana relate to their alleged involvement in the spate of killings in the Greater Masaka Area.

The duo has been in detention since early September 2021.

They were separately granted bail but re-arrested, days apart, and slapped with new murder charges related to an incident in Lwengo District.

Efforts by their lawyers to secure them bail have been futile despite claims that they are in poor health condition.

On November 10, their lawyer Shamim Malende told a magistrate in court in Masaka: “Just imagine your Worship if Hon Ssegirinya died today in the hands of prison. It would really be absurd.”

Malende also claimed some people were threatening to kill her.

In the same court, Richard Birivumbuka, from the prosecution side, told court investigations into the the MPs’ involvement in murder incidents were complete.

Birivumbuka had proposed November 15 as date to start hearings and the trial.

But Malende told court the legislators’ legal team will be attending the bail application for Ssegirinya in Buganda Road Court where the Kawempe MP faces charges of inciting violence through a social media post.

Malende suggested November 23 as the date for the start of the hearing and trial sessions in the High Court.