Court will on March 23, 2023, start hearing an application in which city lawyer Male Mabirizi seeks to stay criminal proceedings against embattled MPs: Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana.

Mabirizi wants the pre-trial proceedings stayed, pending determination of a petition he filed against Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka in the Constitutional Court.

He is challenging the constitutionality of the September 29, 2021, instituted Masaka criminal case for the murder of Joseph Bwanika against Ssegirinya (Kawempe North) and Ssewanyana (Makindye West).

On Tuesday, registrar Stella Beatrice Atingu said the court will be moved to hear the application on March 23, for orders staying pre-trial proceedings against the MPs at the International Crimes Division of the High Court.

The petition came up for hearing on June 16, last year, but did not take off because two members of the panel disqualified themselves from the matter.

Mabirizi wants the Constitutional Court to decide whether the charging of the MPs and remanding them for the murder of Bwanika in a new criminal file shortly after they were granted bail, are consistent with the Constitution.

The lawyer argues that there is a threat of conducting proceedings before determination of the constitutional petition since the matter is on pre-trial stage.

“The MPs and I will suffer irreparable injury if the application is not granted,” Mabirizi contends.

Bwanika was among the over 20 people that were killed in the 2021 indiscriminate machete attacks in the greater Masaka region. The two MPs were charged with the murder of Bwanika barely a week after they had been granted bail on other charges.

The MPs also face charges of murder, terrorism and attempted murder, emanating from spate of killings in Masaka alongside five other people. The others are Bulo Wamala, John Mugerwa, Jackson Kanyike, Mike Sserwadda and Jude Muwonge.