COURT | SSEGIRINYA | SSEWANYANA

KAMPALA - Justice Alice Komuhangi has said that it is risky to disclose the identities of 17 witnesses who are expected to pin embattled Members of Parliament (MPs) Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana over murders in Masaka region.

“I find that there is an objectively justifiable risk to the safety of 17 prosecution witnesses since they are said to have been threatened due to their perceived association with the investigation,” she said.

In a ruling delivered Monday, Komuhangi of the International Crimes Division of the High Court, noted that the evidence of the witnesses may directly implicate the accused persons.

The judge said ordering for full disclosure of the identities of the 17 witnesses during pre-trial may pose a risk to their safety and wellbeing and resultantly negatively affect the prosecution case.

The judge said disclosure of the identities of witnesses and evidence shall be done at the commencement of the trial should court confirm charges for trial.

The legislators face offences of murder, terrorism and attempted murder, jointly with Bulo Wamala, John Mugerwa, Jackson Kanyike, Mike Sserwadda and Jude Muwonge. 

They have been on remand at Kitalya Prison for a year.

Background

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

In November last year, the MPs and their co-accused were committed to the International Crimes Court for trial over the murder of Mugerwa Kizza, Sulaiman Kakooza and attempted murder of Ronald Sebyoto.

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

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 Masaka region because it attracts a lot of media attention.

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