The pre-trial proceedings in the murder cases against MPs Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana have been pushed to July 28.

Justice Elizabeth Jane Alividza on Tuesday deferred the matter after Chief State Attorneys from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Richard Birivumbuka and Joseph Kyomuhendo, prayed for an adjournment to make the necessary disclosure of evidence to the defence lawyers.

Another ground advanced by the two-state lawyers was in relation to the need to protect the witnesses.

Under the International Crimes Division of the High Court rules, cases are subjected to the pre-trial to examine whether or not the evidence adduced by the prosecution is sufficient to sustain the trial of the accused person.

In case the evidence is found sufficient, the accused is committed to the panel of three judges for trial and on the contrary, the accused goes scot-free.

The two MPs representing Kawempe North and Makindye West respectively and five others have been indicted with several counts of murder, terrorism, and attempted murder in relation to the last year’s spate of indiscriminate murders in greater Masaka that comprise districts such as Masaka district, Lwengo, Bukomansimbi, Kalungu among others.

Prosecution alleges that between January and August 2021, the accused and others still at large with the intent to intimidate the public for political religious or economic aims, indiscriminately directly involved themselves in the murders and attempted murder of people in the Masaka region.  

In November last year, the MPs together with Bulo Wamala, John Mugerwa, Jackson Kanyike and Mike Sserwadda were committed to trial over the murder of Mugerwa Kizza, Sulaiman Kakooza and attempted murder of Ronald Sebyoto.    

According to the indictment seen by New Vision, Sserwadda allegedly confessed to have participated in the murders and revealed that he was working with Wamala, Kanyike, Mugerwa and the two MPs to reclaim their presidential ‘victory’.    

The indictment further indicates that Sserwadda was allegedly recruited by Wamala and that the meetings in which they planned the murders were allegedly conducted in a bar located in Ndeeba in Kampala near the Kabaka’s lake in Rubaga Division.    

The meetings which are said to have been graced by Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana were allegedly coordinated by Wamala and Diego Coach Bukenya, who is still at large.    

The indictment indicates that the accused targeted the Masaka region because it attracts a lot of media attention.   

The two MPs allegedly facilitated their co-accused with cash ranging from sh50,000 to sh100,000 to execute the ‘mission’.   

The indictment indicates that the attacks were aimed at instilling fear in the people and eventually discrediting the government. 
   
Police investigations revealed that Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana had political motives and that their objective was to discredit the government.