MP Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana are jailed over the alleged murders in Greater Masaka region
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has expressed readiness to commence the prosecution of MPs Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana Aloysius over the spate of murders in Greater Masaska region in August 2021.
This was after obtaining what the state described as “detailed evidence” implicating the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) lawmakers in the murders of Francis Kiiza Mugerwa and Sulaiman Kakooza.
“Preliminary investigations were concluded leading to the arrest of Mike Sserwada. When interviewed by police, Sserwanda confessed having participated in the murder of Francis Kiiza Mugerwa and Sulaiman Kakooza,” reads the summary of evidence tendered before the Chief Magistrate’s Court of Masaka on Tuesday.
Sserwada reportedly named other accomplices being Wamala Bulo, John Mugerwa, Jackson Kanyike, Ssewanyana and Ssegirinya.
Sserwada also confessed that he was recruited by Mulo and they held meetings in a bar located in Ndeeba near the Kabaka’s lake in Kampala district, where the plan was hatched to terrorise the people of Masaka.
The suspects, according to the DPP, were told to kill people indiscriminately in Masaka as the place attracts a lot of media attention.
Masaka was a hub of intense opposition political activities and violence during the 2021 presidential elections.
The area is a stronghold of the opposition National Unity Platform.
Prosecutors say Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana had “political motives in that their objective was to discredit the government.”
Assistant DPP, Lino Anguzo, said both lawmakers expressed their “bitterness for allegedly being robbed of their victory in the recently concluded elections.”
Led by Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, NUP lost the presidential race to incumbent Yoweri Museveni.
At least 30 people were killed in Greater Masaka as gangs stormed homes under the cover of darkness.
The lawmakers’ lawyers have since dismissed the charges against their clients as “fabricated” and “politically motivated”.
Lawyer Erias Lukwago said Ssewanyana (Makindye West) was in Japan when murders were being reported in Masaka.
Kawempe North MP, Ssegirinya, attributed his woes to his political opponent Sulaiman Kidandala who petitioned court to overturn the former’s victory.
He said Kidandala connived with state agents to frame him for murder after his petition collapsed in the High court.
“Because they failed to defend their election petition they decided to cook up this charge to put me in jail. How can you do this, Kidandala, because you and your team of security organs want the Kawempe North seat? If you want the parliamentary seat, take it… Why do you want to take my life too? Take the seat. I know why I am in this situation…it’s politics; it’s the Kawempe North seat. There’s nothing else. The men are so desperate to have the seat even if it means killing me… I am really overwhelmed… This charge is too grave, it’s too big…” cried Ssegirinya.
The lawmakers, who were
also face other charges of terrorism and abetting terrorism.
Technical evidence
Prosecutors said they would rely on technical evidence gathered by forensic experts to pin the two MPs on charges of murder.
“Telephone handsets were recovered from the accused on arrest by the police and submitted to be examined and analysed,” reads the summary of evidence tendered by the prosecution at Chief Magistrate’s Court in Masaka.
More so, Call Detailed Records (CDR) for the accused were obtained by police and analysed and placed the accused at the various scenes of crime.
“The CDRs will be tendered in court and used as evidence in the trial,” reads part of the summary of evidence.
Prosecutors further said they would rely on evidence of CCTV recordings/footage “to show that the accused participated in the commission of the offences.”
“Prosecution shall contend that the actions of the accused culminate into the murders of Mugerwa Kizza Francis also known as Nawa, Kakooza Sulaiman and Kiyimba Tadeo and attempted murder of Sebyoto Ronald,” said Anguzo.
“Whereupon prosecution contends that the accused persons do not have any valid defence and pray that they be convicted as indicated.”
The case has since been referred to Masaka High Court where the accused will take a plea.
President Museveni has lately piled pressure on judges to avoid granting bail to suspects facing capital charges such as murder, rape and terrorism.
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