The International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala has halted the proceedings in which Kawempe North Member of Parliament Muhammad Ssegirinya and Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana are facing charges of terrorism and murder.
This is after reports that Mp Ssegirinya is critically ill.
His Lawyer Samuel Muyizzi Mulindwa presented to the Court a letter dated January 30th, 2024 to the Clerk to Parliament from the Aga Khan Hospital in Kenya saying that Ssegirinya is critically ill.
The two legislators are charged with terrorism, murder, and attempted murder alongside Jackson Kanyike, John Mugerwa, Bull Wamala, and Mike Sserwadda.
The charges stems from the wave of machete killings that occurred in the greater Masaka district two years ago, resulting in the death of more than 20 people and the injury of scores of others.
On the other hand the MPs co accused Mike Serwadda through his lawyers told Court that he was tortured while in state custody.
Sserwadda contends that he doesn’t know his Co-accused persons and that he was tortured so as to falsely incriminate the legislators. Sserwada has on many occasions said this adding that he was surprised to be accused jointly with people he didn’t know.
Serwadda however told the Court that he had informed his lawyer Geoffrey Turyamusiima to put in an application challenging the trial from proceeding on grounds of having been tortured but in vain.
In response Justice Alice Komuhangi directed Serwadda ‘s lawyer Turyamusiima to file a formal application on his behalf and Prosecution to respond by March 18th, 2024 then return to Court on March 26th 2024.
She said she will hear the application on that day.
