NUP MPs distance self from negotiations

The two NUP lawmakers Allan Ssewanyana and Muhammad Ssegirinya have dismissed allegations that their bail was approved after negotiations with government.

The MPs say their Feb 23rd release was premised on their ailing health condition having prevailed through 17t months of incarceration.

The MPs say the prevailing propaganda is being peddled by their political opponents who intend to replace them in their constituencies.

Addressing journalists at the NUP head offices in Kamwokya this morning, the MPs responded to concerns by the public which had been made to believe that they were released after negotiations.

“We heard that there were negotiations for our release. It was the first time I heard about that. Why would we negotiate? I am innocent. Our lawyers requested bail, and bail was granted. There weren’t any negotiations for our release. I have the freedom to be free in my country. The people who were talking about the negotiations had selfish interests,” Ssewanyana said. “Why would I pay UGX 20 million and my passport withheld if there were negotiations? We want to thank our Party, NUP, for their efforts and our lawyers who toiled tirelessly to get us freedom, one could call temporary freedom. I call it freedom because I and my brother Ssegirinya are innocent,” he said.

MP Ssegirinya on the other hand attributes his persecution to political enemies who he says envied his rocket speed progress in making his manifesto lively.

“I am the only MP who executed his manifesto in two months. This didn’t sit well with several people. There weren’t any negotiations prior to our release. We were released because of the constant pressure that came from our people, the media, and the international community,” he said.

“After I was sworn in as an MP, I received UGX 200 million for the car that I used to buy an ambulance, rented a place where I set up a hospital, and got start-up medical equipment and medicine. I know my people suffer from diseases like gonorrhea and malaria. Medicine was there,” Ssegirinya remarked.