Prosecution directed to amend charge sheet in MP Ssewanyana case
The directive for amendment stems from the death of former Kawempe North MP Muhammad Ssegirinya in January this year.
Prosecution directed to amend charge sheet in MP Ssewanyana case
Michael Odeng
Journalist @New Vision
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High Court Judge Alice Komuhangi Khaukha on Monday (April 7) directed the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to amend the charge sheet in a murder case involving Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana and five other people.
The directive for amendment stems from the death of former Kawempe North MP Muhammad Ssegirinya in January this year.
Ssegirinya was facing charges of murder, terrorism and attempted murder, emanating from the 2021 machete killings in the Masaka region.
Other accused persons include Mike Sserwadda, Bulo Wamala, John Mugerwa, Jackson Kanyike and Jude Muwonge.
On Monday, the judge directed the prosecution to amend the charge sheet within two weeks and disclose relevant documents to new lawyer Paul Kiggundu.
Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka told the court that he needs to get guidance from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo before proceeding, leading to an adjournment until May 12 for hearing.
The case
The offences of murder and terrorism attract a death penalty on conviction, while attempted murder elicits a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
“Between January and August 2022, the accused and others still at large, with intent to intimidate the public for political, religious, or economic purposes, indiscriminately directly involved themselves in the murders and attempted murder of people in Masaka region,” the charge sheet reads.
In November 2022, the MPs, together with the five others, were committed for trial over the murder of Mugerwa Kizza, Sulaiman Kakooza and over the attempted murder of Ronald Sebyoto.
According to the indictment seen by New Vision, one of the accused (Sserwadda) allegedly confessed to having participated in the murders and revealed that he was working with Wamala, Kanyike, Mugerwa and the two MPs to reclaim their presidential ‘victory’.
The meetings, which are said to have been graced by MPs Ssegirinya (now deceased) and Ssewanyana, were allegedly co-ordinated by Wamala and Diego Bukenya, who is still at large.
The indictment stated that the accused targeted the Masaka region because it attracts media attention.
Prosecution alleges that the legislators allegedly gave their co-accused cash ranging from sh50,000 to sh100,000 to execute the ‘mission’.