Jailed city Lawyer Male Hassan Mabirizi Kassim Kiwanuka has written to the Clerk to Parliament to make arrangements to enable Muhammad Ssegirinya, the Kawempe North Member of parliament, and his Makindye West counterpart, Allan Ssewanyana to represent their constituencies while on remand
According to Mabirizzi, the two legislators have been on remand since 7 September 2021 after making futile attempts to seek bail, and authorities in parliament have ‘deliberately locked’ them out. The two MPs are battling a string of charges including murder, attempted murder, and aiding, and abetting terrorism, stemming from the machete killings in Lwengo and districts between March and June 2021. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been on remand.
Citing Article 1(4) of the Constitution, Mabirizi pointed out the people shall express their will and consent to be governed and who shall govern them, and how they should be governed through regular free, and fair elections of their representatives.
“This is therefore to require you to stop playing with the sovereignty of the people by arranging for their representation of their constituents while on remand,” read Mabirizi’s January 21, 2023 letter to Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, the Clerk to Parliament.
