KAMPALA, Uganda The High Court’s International Crimes Division was unable to proceed with the murder and terrorism trial of Makindye West Member of Parliament Allan Ssewanyana and four other suspects Monday, facing charges related to the 2021 “Bijambiya” murders in the greater Masaka region.
The trial’s stagnation stems from the indisposition of the lead prosecutor, Richard Birivumbuka, and the absence of an amended indictment that the court had previously ordered.
Justice Alice Komuhangi Kaukha also heard that a state-provided lawyer, Geoffrey Turyamusiima, has abandoned two of the suspects he was representing, prompting the court registrar to seek a replacement advocate.
Two weeks prior, Justice Komuhangi had instructed the prosecution to amend its charge sheet and indictment to formally drop the late former legislator Muhammad Ssegirinya, who was initially a co-accused in the case before his recent death. The amended document, reflecting only Ssewanyana and the four remaining defendants, was expected to be filed with the court Monday.
However, another prosecutor, Joseph Kyomuhendo, informed the court that the decision to amend the charge sheet is pending guidance from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who is currently out of office. Kyomuhendo requested additional time to resolve the matter with the DPP’s office.
Justice Komuhangi granted the prosecution a longer adjournment, moving the case to May 12 to allow for the amended indictment to be finalized.
Despite the delays, the prosecution maintains its assertion that in August 2021, the two members of parliament conspired with others to murder multiple individuals in the greater Masaka region.
Defense lawyers for the accused argue that amending the indictment would be illogical, as the late Ssegirinya’s name is still expected to surface in the evidence presented during the trial.
