NUP MPs case adjourned as Ssewanyana absence sparks concerns

The presiding judge at the International Crimes Division court in Kololo has adjourned the case hearing of NUP MPs Allan Ssewanyana and Muhammad Ssegirinya after their lawyers raised concerns over their worrying health.

By morning prior to the court, only Ssegirinya who was supported by his aides into the courtroom was present while his colleague Ssewanyana was initially absent but later ferried nearby the premises in a white Alphard model vehicle

His lawyer, Samuel Muyizzi said their client is indisposed and terminally ill, which prompted him to stay in the vehicle as court proceeded. He reportedly had a cannula on his hand and could only ne stretchered to the courtroom if the judge wished to have a glance at him.

“It is not the practice of court to have suspects stretchered to court. Even the defense team could not proceed in such a manner,” he said.

Counsel Muyizzi further said his client had showed up at court to purposely request for his passport that was confiscated by Masaka High Court as per the bail terms. His prayer for a passport is to enable him receive specialized treatment at a high end hospital in Nairobi. Muyizzi prayer for a month long adjournment for his client to pursue his medical attention.

The state prosecutor Richard Birivumbuka said they couldn’t object to the adjournment as they did not want to appear to be ‘persecutors’ since the accused had even spent 17 months on remand.

He however prayed that a three weeks adjournment be considered given that the other suspects namely; Jackson Kanyike, Bull Wamala, Mike Sserwadda and Jude Wamala are still on remand. Their attorney Geoffrey Turyamusiima is still in Bugisu where his partner Anthony Wameli was buried yesterday.

The presiding judge Alice Kyomuhangi adjourned the matter to March 27, 2023 when the case shall return for pre-trial conferencing.

Muyizzi said he allowed his client Muhammad Ssegirinya to physically attend court in order for other lawyers of the five suspects to see the merit of the situation. Ssegirinya demonstrated a skin infection he says he obtained from Kigo prison where he had stayed on remand for close to 524 days.

Except for the MPs, the other suspects are still on remand. They face a strain of charges ranging from attempted murder, murder and terrorism. The MPs were granted a UGX 20m cash bail by the Masaka High Court judge Lawrence Tweyanze last month.