The State has dropped murder and terrorism charges against the late Kawempe North MP Muhammad Ssegirinya, following his death on January 8, 2025.
With the law unable to prosecute the dead, the state has been forced to abandon its case against the controversial politician.
But even in death, Ssegirinya’s legal battles haunt the state, with his lawyer Samuel Muyizzi questioning the legitimacy of the entire case.
“These charges were dead on arrival, they are dead now, and they will also die again in the future,” Muyizzi blasted
He claims the accusations against both Ssegirinya and Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana were nothing but a political witch-hunt.
Before his death, Ssegirinya had been gravely ill, suffering from Hepatic Cholangiopathy and Cryptococcal Meningitis. Muyizzi had persistently begged the court to allow the MP to receive specialized treatment abroad, but the system dragged its feet, letting the legislator waste away in pain.
Both Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana had been accused of orchestrating deadly Masaka region killings in 2021. Arrested in September 2021, they languished behind bars for 17 months before being granted bail. The case had remained in limbo, with the prosecution failing to produce solid evidence, fueling accusations that the charges were purely political.
With Ssegirinya gone, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has now been directed to amend the indictment against Ssewanyana and four other co-accused persons. This move, seen as a face-saving measure, has only deepened public scrutiny of the prosecution’s tactics.
Ssegirinya’s tragic fate has reignited debates on Uganda’s justice system, especially on the delays in political cases, prolonged pretrial detentions, and the health risks faced by incarcerated individuals. Critics argue that many detainees languish in jail without trial, with some, like Ssegirinya, succumbing before they ever see justice.
With the spotlight now on Ssewanyana’s fate, all eyes remain on how the courts and the government will handle what is left of this high-profile case. Will Ssewanyana walk free?
