MPs Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana trial halted over torture claims

The murder trial of two Members of Parliament (MPs), Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana and five others, has temporarily been halted after one of the accused claimed that he was tortured.

When the case resumed on Monday, February 19, 2024, the International Crimes Division of the High Court presided over by Justice Alice Komuhangi halted the pre-trial until Mike Sserwadda’s application of human rights violation is determined.

“Since pre-trial is part of the criminal proceedings in the High Court. This trial is, therefore, stayed pending determination of issues of violation of human rights, “she ruled.

The other co-accused include Bulo Wamala, John Mugerwa, Jackson Kanyike and Jude Muwonge.

Ssegirinya (Kawempe North) and Ssewanyana (Makindye West) and their co-accused also face charges of terrorism and attempted murder, emanating from the spate of killings in Masaka region.

The offences of murder and terrorism attract a death penalty on conviction, while attempted murder elicits a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Background

“Between January and August 2021, 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,” the charge sheet reads.

In November 2022, the MPs, together with the five others, were committed for trial over the murder of Mugerwa Kizza, Sulaiman Kakooza and attempted murder of Ronald Sebyoto.

According to the indictment seen by New Vision, one of the accused (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 co-ordinated by Wamala and Diego Bukenya, who is still at large.

The indictment stated that the accused targeted the Masaka region because it attracts media attention.

Prosecution alleges that the legislators gave their co-accused cash ranging from shillings 50,000 to 100,000 to execute the ‘mission’.