MP faces charges for fighting in public
Jul 19, 2011
THE Police yesterday said both Busiro East MP Medard Ssegona and his predecessor, Suzan Nakawuki, face charges of fighting in public, depending on the outcome of their investigations.
By Steven Candia and Sophie Nakikata
THE Police yesterday said both Busiro East MP Medard Ssegona and his predecessor, Suzan Nakawuki, face charges of fighting in public, depending on the outcome of their investigations.
The two allegedly fought at the High Court in Kampala on Sunday and both separately lodged complaints with the High Court Police.
Each accused the other of wrongdoing.
Susan Nakawuki, an FDC supporter, was the MP for Busiro East in the Eighth Parliament. When Ssegona decided to contest for the Busiro East seat in the February 2011 elections, Nakawuki shifted to Masaka Municipality where she stood as an independent. However, she lost to Ssegona’s political associate Mathias Mpuuga.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing, deputy Kampala Police spokesperson Ibin Ssenkumbi yesterday said the case involving Ssegona and Nakawuki had been transferred to the Central Police Station, Kampala.
“Our investigations are going on and if it turns out that both of them were in the wrong, they could be charged with affray (fighting in public),†Ssenkumbi said.
The charge carries a penalty of one year imprisonment with no option of a fine. Ssegona would also lose his parliamentary seat.
If the Police establish that one of the two was in the wrong, the person will face assault charges.
Following the fracas at the High Court, Ssenkumbi said Nakawuki rushed to CPS where she recorded a statement. She was issued with a medical form for examination.
“We have also invited Ssegona to come and record a statement. He will also be issued with a medical form,†Ssenkumbi said.
The fracas reportedly started over witnesses produced by one of the parties. The two were at the court on Sunday in an election petition between former minister Alintuma Nsambu and Florence Namayanja over the Bukoto East constituency elections.
“They argued over the witnesses who were brought in support of Namayanja. When the argument heightened, Nakawuki allegedly slapped Ssegona,†Steven Ngabirwe, was quoted as saying.
Ssegona is the lawyer for Namayanja. It is not clear why Nakawuki attended the proceedings, but during the elections in Masaka Municipality, she received backing from Alintuma Nsambu.
In the heated exchange, Ssegona reportedly remarked that he could only discuss legal issues with his learned friends and not with Nakawuki. Ssegona argues that it this comment that allegedly angered Nakawuki.
However, speaking in a telephone interview moments after the incident on Sunday, Ssegona denied engaging in a fight and instead accused Nakawuki of assaulting him.
“I cannot fight with a woman. She confronted me, accusing me of coaching my witnesses. I told her not to insult my career and that I could not speak to her because she is not an advocate. She grabbed me and slapped me on the face, but the Police quickly intervened and pulled her off,†Ssegona was quoted as saying.
He also denied pushing Nakawuki down as they were walking out of court on the stairs. He said he lodged an assault case with the High Court Police on Sunday.
However, Nakawuki yesterday dismissed Ssegona’s version, saying Ssegona was the first to attack her in the court hall. Ssegona’s anger, she claimed, had been provoked after she alerted Nsambu’s lawyer that Ssegona was ‘directing’ a witness who was being cross-examined.
“When the judge left the hall, he attacked me, asking me who I am to question his professional ethics. It is then that he tried to strangle me and that is when the people ran and called the Police who intervened. When I was walking out of the court, he pulled my hair and pushed me and I fell on the steps. I bruised my left elbow and I have scratches on my cheeks,†Nakawuki said.
THE Police yesterday said both Busiro East MP Medard Ssegona and his predecessor, Suzan Nakawuki, face charges of fighting in public, depending on the outcome of their investigations.
The two allegedly fought at the High Court in Kampala on Sunday and both separately lodged complaints with the High Court Police.
Each accused the other of wrongdoing.
Susan Nakawuki, an FDC supporter, was the MP for Busiro East in the Eighth Parliament. When Ssegona decided to contest for the Busiro East seat in the February 2011 elections, Nakawuki shifted to Masaka Municipality where she stood as an independent. However, she lost to Ssegona’s political associate Mathias Mpuuga.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing, deputy Kampala Police spokesperson Ibin Ssenkumbi yesterday said the case involving Ssegona and Nakawuki had been transferred to the Central Police Station, Kampala.
“Our investigations are going on and if it turns out that both of them were in the wrong, they could be charged with affray (fighting in public),†Ssenkumbi said.
The charge carries a penalty of one year imprisonment with no option of a fine. Ssegona would also lose his parliamentary seat.
If the Police establish that one of the two was in the wrong, the person will face assault charges.
Following the fracas at the High Court, Ssenkumbi said Nakawuki rushed to CPS where she recorded a statement. She was issued with a medical form for examination.
“We have also invited Ssegona to come and record a statement. He will also be issued with a medical form,†Ssenkumbi said.
The fracas reportedly started over witnesses produced by one of the parties. The two were at the court on Sunday in an election petition between former minister Alintuma Nsambu and Florence Namayanja over the Bukoto East constituency elections.
“They argued over the witnesses who were brought in support of Namayanja. When the argument heightened, Nakawuki allegedly slapped Ssegona,†Steven Ngabirwe, was quoted as saying.
Ssegona is the lawyer for Namayanja. It is not clear why Nakawuki attended the proceedings, but during the elections in Masaka Municipality, she received backing from Alintuma Nsambu.
In the heated exchange, Ssegona reportedly remarked that he could only discuss legal issues with his learned friends and not with Nakawuki. Ssegona argues that it this comment that allegedly angered Nakawuki.
However, speaking in a telephone interview moments after the incident on Sunday, Ssegona denied engaging in a fight and instead accused Nakawuki of assaulting him.
“I cannot fight with a woman. She confronted me, accusing me of coaching my witnesses. I told her not to insult my career and that I could not speak to her because she is not an advocate. She grabbed me and slapped me on the face, but the Police quickly intervened and pulled her off,†Ssegona was quoted as saying.
He also denied pushing Nakawuki down as they were walking out of court on the stairs. He said he lodged an assault case with the High Court Police on Sunday.
However, Nakawuki yesterday dismissed Ssegona’s version, saying Ssegona was the first to attack her in the court hall. Ssegona’s anger, she claimed, had been provoked after she alerted Nsambu’s lawyer that Ssegona was ‘directing’ a witness who was being cross-examined.
“When the judge left the hall, he attacked me, asking me who I am to question his professional ethics. It is then that he tried to strangle me and that is when the people ran and called the Police who intervened. When I was walking out of the court, he pulled my hair and pushed me and I fell on the steps. I bruised my left elbow and I have scratches on my cheeks,†Nakawuki said.