The International Crimes Division of the High Court has dismissed a request by embattled MPs Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana, to refer their matter to the Constitutional Court for interpretation.

Ssegirinya (Kawempe North) and Ssewanyana (Makindye West), through their lawyers, had wanted their matter referred to the Constitutional Court on grounds that their points of law regarding their right to fair hearing, which should be interpreted before pre-trial proceeds.

The legislators are represented by defence lawyers Caleb Alaka, Erias Lukwago and Shamim Malende.

Judge Alice Komuhangi today dismissed the application, saying the issues raised by defence lawyers does not need constitutional interpretation.

“Some of the issues raised were already determined by the constitutional court,” Komuhangi said.

The legislators are accused together with five others of murdering several people using machetes in Masaka region last year. They face counts of murder, terrorism and attempted murder, jointly with five others, emanating from last year’s spate of killings in Masaka.

They are accused along with others: Bulo Wamala, John Mugerwa, Jackson Kanyike, Mike Sserwadda and Jude Muwonge.

Background

“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,” the charge sheet reads.

In November last year, 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 a lot of media attention.

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