Opposition MPs Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana have applied afresh to be released on bail pending the hearing of a cocktail of criminal charges slapped against them in connection with the recent spate of killings in Greater Masaka region.
The legislators of Kawempe North and Makindye West constituencies respectively, list 11 grounds for their release.
These include suffering from grave illness incapable of adequate medical treatment and attention while in prison, having fixed places of abode, and are willing to abide by the bail terms, among others.
In his affidavit to support the bail application, Mr Ssewanyana contends that on September 3, he received criminal summons through the Speaker of Parliament from the CID requiring him to appear at Masaka police for questioning over the Masaka killings.
He adds that they were later charged before Masaka Chief Magistrate’s Court with murder and attempted murder for which they applied and were released on bail.
“On September 23, upon fulfilling the bail terms, the first applicant (Ssewanyana) was released from Kigo prison but immediately after stepping out of the gates, a Toyota Hiace, commonly known as drone, intercepted him and more than five military personnel jumped out and bundled him inside the drone and whisked him to unknown place,” court records show.
The court records add: “In a similar turn of events on September 27, upon fulfilling bail terms, the second applicant (MP Ssegirinya) was released from Kigo prison but was unfortunately, intercepted by security operatives and driven recklessly away in a drone.”
Upon their re-arrest, the lawmakers were later charged with one more count of murder, also arising from their alleged participation in the Masaka killings.
The court is expected today to give a date for hearing of the fresh bail application to their lawyers.
The development comes at a time President Museveni has renewed his decade long bid to scrap bail for suspected capital offenders.
Charges
The MPs now face four counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, one count of terrorism and aiding and abetting of terrorism.
The charging of the MPs afresh frustrated their earlier release on bail, where they had paid Shs20m each and their securities, Shs100m not cash.