The two opposition MPs who were arrested in September last year, are charged alongside Wilson Ssenyonga alias Tony Nyonga who pinned them for murdering Joseph Bwanika, who was a resident of Kisseka B village in Lwengo district.
The Masaka Resident State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka, told the court that they have failed to locate Tony Ssenyonga from Kitalya Prison, where he was remanded.
Ssewanyana argues that much he is on remand; he merely remains a suspect who is innocent of the offenses until proven guilty of charges against him, indicating that this gives him absolute rights to participate in the process as well as expressing interest and contesting for Office of the Speaker.
Tamale through his lawyer Ernest Kaliba, raised concerns of his continued stay on remand beyond the six months, despite the failure by the state to conclude investigations into offenses.
Sssewanya complained that they have endured a long remand sentence of close to six months, which was enough time for the state to thoroughly study the case file, conduct and conclude the necessary investigations in the allegations against them.
Malende protested the slow pace in the investigations by the state, arguing that it has unduly subjected the accused persons to prolonged remand sentences.
The court couldn’t proceed due to the absence of the prosecutor. At some point, the magistrate was prompted to adjourn court for 20 minutes to allow the prosecutor more time to show up or send a representative in vain.
When granted an opportunity to address the court about his plights, Ssegirinya complained that he is locked up in solitary confinement and not allowed to practice his faith through prayers.
Court heard that while in various places in Uganda, with intents to intimidate the public for political, religious, social, or economic gains, the suspects indiscriminately involved themselves in murder and attempted murder of people.
The four are Sheikh Abaasi Nseera, the Imam of Masaka main mosque, his assistants Hakim Nseera and Farouk Mulumba, and Moses Tamale an ordinary worshiper. They were remanded to Sazza Government prisons on Thursday, on the basis of offences that were committed during a scuffle at Masaka main mosque in May, this year.
Abaasi Nseera, together with Hakim Nseera, Farouk Mulumba and Musa Tamale appeared before Masaka grade one magistrate Grace Wakooli, and charged with threatening violence and inflicting bodily injuries on two members of the Muslim community in Masaka. The offences were allegedly committed on May 26, this year.
The Masaka Grade One Magistrate Author Zirabamuzale was forced to adjourn the case to February next year after the state prosecutor Jacob Nahurira told the court that the witnesses had not appeared in court.
According to Nyonyintono, she was evicted from her one acre piece of land in Kyantale village in Kabonera Sub County in Masaka city that she has occupied for the past 12 years.
