By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL
Democratic Party (DP) has applauded the judiciary on ruling to grant bail to National Unity Platform (NUP) legislators Allan Ssewanyana – Makindye West MP and Muhammed Ssegirinya – Kawempe North MP.
According to Fred Mwesigwa, the party’s press secretary said that although court set stringent conditions on the bail, it was fair and justice for the legislators to be released.
He made the remarks while addressing journalists at their party headquarters at City House Kampala on Tuesday.
Yesterday, the Masaka High Court Judge Lawrence Tweyanze granted a Shs20 millions cash bail to Hon. Ssewanyana and Hon. Ssegirinya and a non-cash bail of Shs50m to each of their sureties to allow them out of Luzira – Kigo prison.
The duo have been in imprisonment for nearly 2 years (since September 2021) on charges of murder, attempted murder related to the spate of killings in Masaka sub region in 2021.
The UYD president, Ismail Kiirya further appealed to the chief justice Alfonse Owinyi-Dolli to grant fair trial to other Ugandans detained unlawfully.
“Political prisoners also deserve justice. We demand that government set free other Ugandans who are in various detentions across the country on political related charges. Some of these include many members of the NUP who were produced before the court martial,” the UYD president, Ismail Kiirya urged.
It should be understood that immediately when he was appointed the minister of justice and constitutional affairs, Nobert Mao, the DP president pledged to ensure a speedy and fair trial for MPs Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana.
“Today I met Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya’s mother at my office at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. We were joined by the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Mariam Wangadya, who was visiting. I assured her that the right to a fair trial is paramount!” Mao said in August, 2022.
When asked if the temporary release of the two legislators was influenced by general Mao, the DP press secretary, Fred Mwesigwa could neither admit nor deny but said the Mao presides over decisions by the judiciary.
