The whereabouts of Makindye West MP, Hon Allan Ssewanyana remain unknown following his rearrest after he was released from Kigo Prison on Thursday evening.
According to the National Unity Platform, NUP Party spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi, Ssewanyana was re-arrested outside the prison at 7:30 pm by unknown gunmen and driven to an unknown destination.
"The state has mastered the art of violating court orders. Remember the black mamba siege and several other incidents of re-arresting people released by the court. So the state wants to continue holding the legislators" Ssenyonyi said.
He added that as the arty, they are not sure who the people that arrested Ssewanyana were, because they were plain-clothed.
According to Ssewanyana’s lawyer also Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago said that his clisnt’s kidnap renders the court directive that he should be released on bail insignificant.
Ssewanyana was jointly arrested together with Kawempe North MP Muhammad Ssegirinya on September 7th 2021 and taken to Masaka Magistrates Court on charges of murder and terrorism arising from the recent killings of people using machetes in Masaka. They were remanded and sent to Kigo Government Prison.
However, since the court lacked jurisdiction to try the offenses, they sought bail before the High Court which was granted by Lady Justice Victoria Nakintu Katamba on September 20th 2021 on presumption that they are still innocent unless proven to be guilty.
After fulfilling the conditions the duo on Thursday appeared before the High Court International Crimes Division Registrar Beatrice Atingu in Kampala to append signatures on the forms.
The MPs appeared via a zoom link connecting from court to Kigo prison where they are were directed to sign in the presence of the Registrar before the sureties can also sign physically in court.
However, Ssegirinya’s surety the Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake did not appear in court and he was not released. Ssewanyana on the other hand was released, only for him to be picked by men wearing black and wielding guns who put him in a drone vehicle and sped off.
Frank Baine, the Uganda Prisons spokesperson says Ssewanyana was released and therefore he doesn’t know his whereabouts.
According to Fred Enanga the Uganda Police Force spokesperson, his team is still verifying the information about Ssewanyana's kidnap. It remains unclear where the MP is being held and by who.
The NU Party resident Robert Kyagulanyi says Ssewanyanas abduction is unfortunate and that Ugandans must work hard to end what he termed as madness.
“The rogue regime operates in such an illegal and arrogant manner! These are the kinds of violations we all must work jointly to put an end to. I am grateful to all lawyers who are working hard to get justice for Hon. Ssewanyana and Hon. Ssegirinya. I implore all citizens to continue working to see that they get justice, and above all to put a permanent end to this madness.”
