Masaka, Uganda | NOW THEN DIGITAL — The High Court in Masaka City has approved an application by Kawempe North legislator Muhammad Ssegirinya, allowing him to retrieve his passport for overseas medical treatment. Ssegirinya’s attorney, Lawrence Kabuye, informed Justice Lawrence Tweyanze on Monday that his client, presently under treatment at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya in Kampala, has been advised to seek further medical attention in Amsterdam.
Following this request, the court ruled in favor of Ssegirinya, directing that his passport be returned to him. Justice Tweyanze specified that the passport should be returned on or before January 15, 2024. Notably, other bail conditions remain unchanged.
Lawrence Kabuye expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating that they will now focus on facilitating the legislator’s travel for specialized treatment. He emphasized their commitment to complying with the court orders and returning the passport upon Ssegirinya’s return after completing the advised treatment.
Previously, Ssegirinya had received medical treatment in the Netherlands, including addressing skin cancer, before returning to Uganda in September. Parliament Speaker Anita Among, who visited him on November 10, announced his remarkable recovery and commended his strength and determination during the challenging period.
Ssegirinya, along with Makindye West legislator Allan Ssewanya, had been granted bail on February 13 by the same court after spending nearly 17 months in remand. The charges against them included murder, attempted murder, and terrorism, stemming from their arrest in September 2021. One of the bail conditions was the retention of Ssegirinya’s passport, linked to accusations of orchestrating the killings in Masaka Sub region between July and September 2021, resulting in over 25 casualties.
