The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo says she is not opposing the bail application filed by embattled Members of Parliament Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana.

The DPP’s no objection follows an application by Ssegirinya (Kawempe North) and Ssewanyana (Makindye West), asking the court to release them on bail, citing ill-health and delayed trial.

The two MPs, who have spent over 14 months on remand at Kitalya Prison, are seeking bail in a case in which they are accused of killing Joseph Bwanika, a resident of Kisseka B village in Lwengo district.

Bwanika was among the over 20 people that were killed in the 2021 indiscriminate machete attacks in greater Masaka region. The two MPs were charged with the murder of Bwanika barely a week after they had been granted bail on other charges.

The MPs also face charges of murder, terrorism and attempted murder, emanating from a spate of killings in Masaka alongside five other people. The others are Bulo Wamala, John Mugerwa, Jackson Kanyike, Mike Sserwadda and Jude Muwonge.

When the bail hearing resumed today before Masaka High Court Judge Lawrence Tweyanze, state attorneys Richard Birivumbuka and Joseph Kyomuhendo withdrew affidavits sworn by two top officials from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the investigating officer.

They are assistant DPP Thomas Jatiko, Jennifer Amumpaire and superintendent of Police Innocent Mubangizi.

Birivumbuka also tendered in court a certificate of no objection to the legislator’s bail application, signed by Abodo on January 23, 2023.

This means that the MPs' release on bail lies at the discretion of the judge after their lawyers submit the bail application. The defence lawyers are Caleb Alaka, Erias Lukwago and Samuel Muyizzi Mulindwa, Medard Sseggona, Evans Ochieng and John Matovu.

The charges

The prosecution alleges that between January and August 2021, the accused and others still at large, with intent to intimidate the public for political, religious or economic aim, indiscriminately, directly involved themselves in the murder and terror acts in the greater Masaka region.

The indictment indicates that the accused targeted the Masaka region because it allegedly attracts a lot of media attention. 

The two MPs allegedly facilitated their co-accused with cash ranging between shillings 50,000 to shillings 100,000 to execute the mission according to the indictment presented in court by ODPP. 

The indictment indicates that the attacks were aimed at instilling fear in the people and eventually discrediting the government.