Makindye East Member of Parliament Allan Ssewanyana shocked journalists when he revealed that his “enemies” within the National Unity Platform, to which he also subscribes, are the reason for their (along with Ssegirinya) arrest and eventual jail time.
While speaking to journalists at the party headquarters this morning, March 29, 2023, for the first time since their release, the legislator who is out on bail went ahead to pinpoint some of his colleagues who went behind their backs to spread allegedly false information about the two in a bid to taint their political image.
“I had over 12 opponents during the parliamentary elections in 2021, not forgetting the 11 contenders during the NUP primaries. All these did not wish well for me, and some have continued to fight me and my colleague (Ssegirinya),” said the teary-eyed Ssewanyana.
Hon Ssegirinya Muhammad, the Kawempe North representative, also conformed with his colleague’s earlier remarks when he revealed that they were in disbelief when they learned that fellow NUP colleagues continued to spread false information about them.
The negotiations for the release
“There were no negotiations between anyone to have us released. This therefore answers the several questions that have been in the media concerning the suspected negotiations to have us released,” said Ssegirinya.
According to Ssewanyana, their opponents are responsible for spreading fake rumors about the negotiations for their release to make the lawful release sound and look fishy.
“Some of these questions would not have come up had it not been the nature of competition in the political environment. Some of our opponents have tried to spread false propaganda to make our release look fishy,” said Ssewanyana.
However, at the time of their release, media reports indicated that Norbert Mao, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and Leader of Opposition, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, spearheaded negotiations without the NUP party a consensus.