MP Ssewanyana granted bail
Nov 24, 2020
The legislator is battling charges of doing acts that are likely to spread infectious disease (coronavirus) together with his supporters.
COURT|CRIME|MP SSEWANYANA
KAMPALA - Makindye West Member of Parliament (MP), Allan Ssewanyana has been released on bail after spending a week on remand at Kitalya Government Prison.
The legislator is battling charges of doing acts that are likely to spread infectious disease (coronavirus) together with his supporters, who include Robert Musisi, Ivan Wasswa, Maria Nabwase, and Issa Musisi. They have since denied the charges.
Under Section 171 of the Penal Code Act, any person who unlawfully or negligently does any act which he or she knows or has reason to believe to be likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for seven years if convicted.
Makindye Court Grade One Magistrate, Jude Okumu Muwone, Monday (November 23, 2020) released each of the accused on a cash bail of sh300, 000 after ruling that their sureties are substantial.
The court directed the accused's sureties to execute a non-cash bond of sh5m.
"You must make sure you produce the accused in court whenever required. If you fail, you will be held accountable for their disappearance," the magistrate warned the sureties.
The five are accused of staging a campaign rally, which attracted a huge crowd of people, who did not adhere to Ministry of Health Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
According to prosecution, the accused and others still at large allegedly committed the offence on November 15, 2020, at Mulungu Landing site in Munyonyo, Makindye Division in Kampala.
Ssewanyana, the National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer for Makindye West was two weeks ago arrested and detained at Katwe when he went to follow his four supporters who were arrested from Mulungu Landing site in Munyonyo, where he organised a meeting on Sunday.
Sources said the police stormed the meeting but the supporters and organisers fled, including Ssewanyana but four of his supporters were arrested.
The police also recovered a truck with a music system, which the MP had allegedly mounted speakers.