Kawempe North Member of Parliament Muhammad Ssegirinya has been set free by court. The development has been confirmed by the National Unity Platform party where he is a member.

The party said the legislator had fulfilled all the requirements of his bail application on Monday.

His release on bail was declined last week on grounds that Mityana municipality MP Francis Zaake, who had stood surety for him was out of the country. 

"In the light of this matter, our legal team has been working out to see how the matter can be resolved and today, Hon. Nsanja Patrick has substituted Comrade Zaake in standing as Surety for Hon. Ssegirinya," said the party in a short message.

 Ssegirinya and fellow legislator Allan Sewanyana (Makindye West legislator), also of the National Unity Platform (NUP), were on September 8 charged in the Masaka magistrates court with three counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

They are accused of having a hand in the recent spate of killings in Masaka sub-region that left close to 26 people dead. The legislators are also facing charges of terrorism and aiding and abetting terrorism.

Appearing before Masaka grade one magistrate, Grace Wakoli, two weeks ago, the resident state attorney, Richard Birivumbuka said the State had amended the charge sheet of the duo, adding two more charges.

 He said the duo and others still at large in the period of January to August 2021 took part in killing people in Masaka region and other parts of the country.

 In light of the terrorism charges, Ssewayana is currently being held in Kireka, following his rearrest moments after his release from Kigo last week. UPDF spokesperson Brig Flavia Byekwaso said Ssewayana would appear before the army court-martial.

However, his party protests the charges, saying they are trumped up.