Court of Appeal Denies Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana Bail

Court of Appeal has dismissed the bail application filed by Kawempe North MP Muhammad Ssegirinya and Makindye West MP Allan Sewanyana.

The Court on Wednesday directed the State to expeditiously fix their capital offences for trial.

A panel of three justices; Cheborion Barishaki, Christopher Izama Madrama and Eva Luswata, in their ruling said Court of Appeal does not have the jurisdiction.

This followed a petition by the lawmakers challenging the High Court judge’s decision to deny them bail having been on remand for nearly a year.

Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana were arrested in 2021 at the peak of killings in Greater Masaka which claimed lives of 20 people.

They were granted bail but quickly re-arrested on September 23 and 26, respectively while leaving Kigo prison.

On October 25, 2021, Masaka High Court Judge Lawrence Tweyanze dismissed their bail application saying the MPs would interfere with the trial process and investigations.

Through their lawyers led by Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi, Erias Lukwago and Shamim Malende, appealed the ruling.

Today, Justices of the Court of Appeal told the MPs that they do not have jurisdiction to give audience to their petition.

They are charged with murder, attempted murder and aiding and abetting terrorism.

National Unity Platform (NUP) Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya called the court decision “problematic”.

“This morning the Court of Appeal ruled that it doesn’t have jurisdiction to hear an appeal against a denied bail application by the High Court. A very problematic decision, especially in the Ssewanyana, Ssegirinya case where all attempts have failed before the the High Court,” he said.