The prisons authority has this evening informed the leaders of the National Unity Platform and the families of incarcerated legislators Muhammad Ssewanyana of Kawempe South and Allan Ssewanyana that they do not have them in their custody.
By press time at around 10:30pm, our reporter Ms Dorothy Nalumansi who was on ground at Kigo Prisons where the leaders and supporters had been camped informed us that authorities had informed the family members that the duo MPs had left hours before.
“We do not have these people in our custody right now. They have left,” one of the officials told the waiting group.
Mr Ssewanyana and Ssegirinya were both arrested on September 7, 2021 alongside seven others and charged with several counts in killings in greater Masaka region where machete weilding gangs caused the death of more than 27 people.
On 21st September, 2021 the judges while appearing video, they were both granted bail, but were re-arrested after stepping out of Kigo Prisons where they had been incarcerated for weeks.
Government State Attorney later announced that fresh murder charges had been slapped on the legislators who at the time had been reported to be ailing with different conditions.
Through their lawyers, the MPs filed to the International Crimes Division of the High Court demanding compensation of Shs300m and a declaration that their re-arrest shortly after being granted bail was a violation of their human rights.
However this application was quashed by the same court upon final hearing.
Earlier today, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) withdrew three affidavits objecting the MPs’ bail application. The announcement was made by Senior State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka.
“We went on to present the sureties for bail before the judgment on the bail application is heard. The sureties were granted bail of Shs50m non-cash,” Mr Ssegona said.
