Local leaders and concerned residents in Kawempe Division have this morning petitioned the Uganda Human rights Commission (UHRC) over human rights violations meted on Hon Ssegirinya Muhammed the Kawempe North MP .
The locals including the mother to the ailing incarcerated legislator, Josephine Nanfuma marched to the UHRC complaining over the refusal to release the ailing Mp despite his deteriorating health condition.
The group led by Thomas Bagonza, a direct Councillor representing Wandegeya at Kawempe Division urban council were uninterrupted in their pursuit until they reached the offices.
In their petition,the group is seeking action from the UHRC and its mandate to recommend,investigate and visit all torture victims being held at places of detention.
They contend that the fundamental rights and freedoms of Hon Ssegirinya were abused and violated by security organs during his rearrest when he was tortured.
They claim Ssegirinya’s legal team has been denied access to disclosure of evidence by the State in a murder trial which violates his rights to a fair hearing.
The group says they will not stop until the rights of other citizens and the two Mp’s Hon Ssegirinuya and Makindye West Mp Allan Sewanyana who remain confined in jail have been respected.
Bagonza says they intend to present the same petition before the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights.
Both Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana are battling murder and terrorism charges at the Masaka High Court in relation to the gruesome machete attacks in the Greater Masaka Region.
Last week the Buganda Road Grade One Magistrate’s Court last week granted Hon Ssegirinya a cash bail of one million shillings in a case of inciting violence.His sureties were each bonded to a non cash bond of 10 million shillings.
The legislator had appeared before Grade One Magistrate Her Worship Olga Karungi via Zoom technology from Murchison Bay Prison where he is currently detained and admitted on treatment.
Ssegirinya pleaded with the presiding Magistrate to grant him bail on grounds that he needed to access further treatment away from the Prison’s medical facility.
In her ruling, Her Worship Olga Karungi granted the accused bail on grounds that the case is bailable, the sureties substantial and he needed to access medical care.
However ,both legislators are still locked up in jail pending the murder tiral at the Masaka High Court.On December 07,Court adjourned their matter to December 21, 2021.
This was after the Prosecution led by Richard Birivumbuka, Masaka resident Chief State Attorney asked Court for more time on grounds that investigations into the legislator’s second file of murder were complete.
Compiled by Rashidah Nakaayi
