Friday, 10th January 2025
The demise of former Kawempe Division North Member of Parliament (MP), Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya, has re-awakened a call from lawmakers for respect of the rule of law, including the right to fair hearing.
Ssegirinya died on Thursday, 09 January 2025 in Lubaga hospital after battling a long illness.
Parliament passed a motion for a resolution of Parliament to pay tribute to the fallen lawmaker during plenary sitting on Friday, 10 January 2025.
Seconding the motion, the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, condemned the manner in which Ssegirinya’s case, wherein the fallen MP was accused of terrorism, murder and attempted murder in 2021 was handled.
Ssenyonyi said that the prolonged incarceration of Ssegirinya without trial and denial of bail, despite the fallen MP having a pre-existing medical condition was unconstitutional.
Ssegirinya and Hon. Allan Ssewanyana (NUP, Makindye Division West), together with several others were first arrested and imprisoned in September 2021, and the legislators were granted bail in 2023.