Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana released on bond; to report back to Police today over Masaka murders

National Unity Platform (NUP) MPs Mohammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana were on Monday released on a one-day police bond and ordered to return to the Masaka Central Police Station,today, Tuesday.

The two MPs were on Monday interrogated over their alleged involvement in the recent killings in Masaka in which over 30 people have so far been murdered by machete welding gangs.

Police heightened deployment in Masaka as the two MPs made their way to the station, blocking journalists from recording anything that was happening around the station.

A number of NUP MPs, including Kampala Woman MP Shamim Malende were also blocked from accessing the station.

Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana arrived at the station in company with Kampala Lord Mayor and Lawyer Erias Lukwago and a number of NUP dignitaries, including leader of opposition in Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga.

Earlier on, MP Ssegirinya had told journalists before setting off that we will go and only mention his name, because he does not know anything about the killings.

“I do not even know where exactly the killings are taking place in Masaka, because I only see them on social media as well, I have not been around,” Ssegirinya said.

MP Ssewanyana had earlier said that this is just political because he also had no idea on why he was being summoned.

“They wants to smear our names, they want people yo hate us, I will go with my lawyer and we answer their questions but I do not know anything,” Ssewanyana told reporters.

Police speaks out

Meanwhile, Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said on Monday that the two MPs were summoned after some of the suspects implicated them to planning the murders in meetings held in Ndeeba, a Kampala suburb.

“The suspects indicated to us how they were promised wealth and this was under the command of the two politicians. We are going to record statements from the two MPs who are behind the murders,”Enanga said.

“The statements from suspects indicate that in a meeting at Ndeeba, they were recruited and all was done under the command of the two politicians. We want explanation from them.”

The machete welding gangs’ intentions remain unclear, as they continue to target elderly groups of 50 years of age and above.

Enanga said that at least 23 suspects have been arrested, 11 of whom have already appeared in courts of law, whereas the others are pending court.