Embattled Members of Parliament Muhammad Ssegirinya (Kawempe North) and Allan Ssewanyana(Makindye West) have for the first time after their release two months ago, spoken to the media narrating their ordeal while in prison for almost two years.
The duo MPs refuted claims that their release had been negotiated by some opposition leaders in parliament indicating that they have a right to bail as any Ugandan and will continue to work for their various constituencies as members of parliament.
“I was released in an ambulance and I didn’t know what was happening. I would have never been able to address the media in an ambulance,” Ssewanyana said in response to why they have taken so long to speak to the media.
His counterpart Mr Ssegirinya said, “We were released because our accusers did not have evidence against us. The international community also pressured them. I have skin cancer and I had a problem with my liver. Hypertension which is 200/140 and we need further medication.”
Mr Ssewanyana and Ssegirinya were both arrested on September 7, 2021 alongside seven others and charged with several counts in killings in the greater Masaka region where machete wielding gangs caused the death of more than 27 people.
On 21st September, 2021 the judges, while appearing in video, were both granted bail, but were re-arrested after stepping out of Kigo Prisons where they had been incarcerated for weeks.
READ: https://news247.co.ug/2023/02/13/breaking-17months-later-mps-ssegirinya-and-ssewanyana-bailed/
This morning, Mr Ssegirnya and Ssewanyana told the media that they were suffering from various diseases and that they would have loved to be flown abroad for specialized medication.
“I had a clot in my breast and lungs so at the time of my release I could not talk, neither walk nor sit. We have been gathering ourselves to come and talk to you,” Mr Ssewanyana said.