President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reacted over release of MPs Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana on court bail and lashed out at courts of law for constantly releasing people suspected to have committed offences such as murder.
Museveni made this statement yesterday where he described the release on bail as “a provocation” and “abominable and to meet NRM caucus to suggest a national referendum to change the law on bail.
“For somebody to kill a person and you give them bail is a provocation. It is abominable,” Museveni said.
“I would like us to cure this ideological disagreement. This bail, what is the hurry? Who are you trying to please?”
“We are going to work on this. I am going to summon the NRM caucus and if necessary, we put it to a referendum. With this provocation, people will take the law into their hands.” He said
Museveni’s statement comes shortly after the release from prison of two members of parliament, who were arrested in connection to the murders in the Greater Masaka area.
These included MPs Muhammad Ssegirinya (Kawempe North) and Allan Ssewanyana (Makindye west) who were granted bail by the High Court early this week.
However, Security officers on Thursday evening rearrested Hon Ssewanyana at the gate of Kigo Prison immediately after his release.
The UPDF spokesperson later told media that Hon Sewanyana was rearrested on other fresh charges unrelated to the Masaka killings.
His colleague Muhammad Ssegirinya is yet to be released since one of his sureties is out of the country.
The President’s proposal for a referendum on bail, if successful, would see Article 23(6) of the national constitution amended.
The law currently states that “Where a person is arrested in respect of a criminal offence, he or she is entitled to apply to the court to be released on bail and the court may grant that person bail on such conditions as the court considers reasonable.