The High Court sitting in Masaka District has granted bail to the two embattled Members of Parliament, Muhamed Ssegirinya of Kawempe South and Allan Ssewanyana of Makindye West.
Each will execute a bond for Shs 20 million in cash, and their sureties are bonded for Shs 50 million each in non-cash.
The court, presided over by Justice Lawrence Tweyanze on Monday, February 14th, further directed the duo to deposit their passports with the court and report monthly to the International Crimes Division of the High Court.
Ssegirinya (Kawempe North) and Ssewanyana (Makindye West) have spent over 14 months at Kitalya Prison on charges of murder, terrorism, and attempted murder.
The legislators are being accused, along with five others, of murdering several people using machetes in Masaka region two years ago.
The accused persons face several counts of murder, terrorism, and attempted murder stemming from a spate of killings in Masaka. The others are Bulo Wamala, John Mugerwa, Jackson Kanyike, Mike Sserwadda, and Jude.
The MPs are accused of murdering Joseph Bwanika, a resident of Kisseka B village in Lwengo district.
Bwanika was among the over 20 people that were killed in the 2021 indiscriminate machete attacks in the greater Masaka region. The two MPs were charged with the murder of Bwanika barely a week after they had been granted bail on other charges.
State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka is prosecuting the case, while Caleb Alaka, Erias Lukwago, Samuel Muyizzi Mulindwa, Medard Sseggona, Evans Ochieng, and John Matovu are defending the MPs.
The prosecution alleges that between January and August 2021, the accused and others still at large, with intent to intimidate the public for political, religious, or economic aims, indiscriminately directly involved themselves in the murder and terror acts in the greater Masaka region.
The two MPs allegedly facilitated their co-accused with cash ranging between shillings 50,000 and shillings 100,000 to execute the mission, according to the indictment presented in court by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The indictment indicates that the attacks were aimed at instilling fear in the people and eventually discrediting the government.
