Main opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine has finally spoken out on the release of party MPs Allan Ssewanyana of Makindye West and Muhammad Ssegirinya of Kawempe North, and allegations that the opposition group’s leaders negotiated their freedom with President and NRM National Chairman Gen Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni.
Bobi Wine said he was yet to speak to the two legislators who had been jailed for nearly two years over allegations that they took part in Masaka killings in 2021. But he denied he had negotiated with Museveni to have the two MPs released, saying it was shameful that anyone would have to beg the president to be granted bail yet this was supposed to be a court procedure.
Here is Bobi Wine’s full statement:
Greetings fellow Ugandans,
I have seen some people asking for my comment on the release of our comrades, Hon. Allan Ssewanyana and Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya.
- I am very happy that after such a long period of detention without trial, the two leaders are out of Kigo Prison on bail. I am very grateful to all leaders, lawyers and comrades who for the past one and a half years, have visited them in prison, attended court sessions, spoken out against their illegal detention, supported their families, prayed for them, etc.
- We have not yet spoken about this comprehensively because we have not yet had the opportunity to see or speak with the two MPs. Ordinarily, when our comrades are freed from illegal detention, we speak with them and that enables us to understand better the circumstances of their abduction or arrest, what happened to them in detention, the circumstances of their release, as well as the general state of their health. For now, their families have told us that they are still undergoing treatment. We shall be in position to speak out better after interacting with them.
- I have noted the insinuations that the two MPs were released after negotiations with Gen. Museveni and that they made some compromises and undertakings.
LET ME BE CATEGORICAL that I do not know about any such negotiations, and if anyone took part in any negotiations to secure COURT BAIL for detainees, they did so without my knowledge or endorsement.
Our position remains that we must not beg Gen. Museveni and his criminal regime to grant us our GOD GIVEN rights. The suggestion that one needs to negotiate with Museveni to get bail, which should be entirely a court process, is not only shameful but ridiculous. Unfortunately, that is what our country has been reduced to! Impunity, lawlessness and disregard for institutions normalised.
Secondly, negotiations involve give and take considerations. We have nothing to give to Museveni in exchange for our rights. The biggest thing Museveni would need in exchange is to stop fighting his regime of blood and shame and we are not about to stop doing that.
We hope that in the coming days, we shall be able to interact with the two MPs and guide the nation on the way forward.
FOR NOW the question the regime has failed to answer for all this time is, WHO KILLED THE PEOPLE OF MASAKA AND WHY?
It should be remembered that media reports had suggested that Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) Mathias Mpuuga had taken part in negotiations and secret talks with Museveni’s government to have Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana released. But LoP Mpuuga has threatened to drag Daily Monitor to court, giving the newspaper only seven days within which to apologize and pay Shs200m in damages or face him in the temple of justice. (See Details Here).
