MPs Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana remanded to Kitalya over murder

MASAKA-UGANDA/NEWSDAY: Two Members of Parliament Allan Ssewanyana and Mohammad Ssegirinya have been remanded to Kitalya by a Grade III magistrate’s court in Masaka.

They have been remanded until September 15.

They are accused of coordinating and financing murders n Masaka area between July and August this year.

Police on Monday preferred four charges of murder and attempted murder against two Members of Parliament Allan Ssewanyana (Makindye West) and Mohammad Ssegirinya (Kawempe North) over Machete killings in Masaka.

The duo were grilled for seven hours at Masaka Central Police Station amidst high security, which even barred their colleagues from entering the police premises.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga in a media address in Kampala on Monday said Sewanyana and Segirinya are viewed as the masterminds behind the vicious murders.

“The suspects in their admissions clearly indicate how they were recruited, taken through the intentionally designed plans in a meeting at Ndeeba, and create animosity against elderly victims, who do not share their views,” Enanga said

He added the that Ssewanyana and Ssegirinya promised wealth as a motivating factor to the suspects.

“And that it is under the command of the two politicians that the victims were hacked and beaten to death. It is further alleged that the politicians facilitated the movement of the assailants and induced them to commit the atrocities against their victims,” Enanga said.

” The arrests and persons charged to court on evidence, shows our resolve to tackle all forms of senseless violence and impunity,” Enanga said

He added that the Joint Task Teams countering vicious murders in Masaka and Lwengo districts continue to register more success in their operations.

He said last week a total of 12 suspects were charged for murder and related conspiracies.

Those charged suspects include; Sewankambo Muhammad, a 32-year-old, male adult; Kibirango John Bosco, aged 40, Ssekajugo Paul, aged 42; Mutabazi Batisita aged 36; Kabayo Henry; Kaganda Moses aged 30; Tumwesigye aged 26; Kayiza Ashiraf aged 20, Ssebunya Isa aged 35; Kyabula David aged 30, Sserwada Mike aged 34 and Muwonge Jude aged 38.

“An additional 11 suspects are pending court, after their case files were sanctioned. 23 suspects, admitted to participating in the murderous rampage, and led the task team to selected scenes of crime, for reconstruction” Enanga said in a statement.

He said that a one Mulumba Kassim aged 25, who is on the run, after attempting to murder, Nakyanzi Maria Yozefu aged 61, in Kyotera is being hunted.

He said security teams managed to foil attacks in Butenga, Bukomansimbi after machete welding assailants were sighted while looking for prospective murder victims.

“We want to thank the public in the three districts of Masaka, Lwengo and Bukomansimbi for volunteering information and for their level of increased vigilance. Some of the killers in Masaka and Lwengo were identified with the help of the community. Their cooperation has helped deter the vicious killers from spreading further havoc across the 3 districts,”Enanga said.