The mighty TV10GanoMazima as usual we have exclusively landed on information detailing how on Monday morning Brig. Gen. Robert Freeman Mugabe the chairperson of the Makindye based Court Martial held a secret meeting with the Leader of Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi to discuss the issue of political prisoners.
Highly placed sources both in the Office of the Leader of Opposition in Parliament and at the Court martial revealed that the meeting was held immediately after the court sitting.
Ssenyonyi was accompanied by a team of legislators who were directed to escort their boss to Court to stand surety for the 28 supporters of Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu’s National Unity Platform(NUP) who were charged before the court martial.
When we contacted Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro the party deputy spokesperson on Tuesday to confirm whether Bobi Wine and the party secretariat had any knowledge about the development, Mufumbiro distanced himself from the said meeting explaining that he was not at court.
He advised us to contact Ssenyonyi or the legislators who were at Court on Monday. TV10GanoMazima made several phone calls to Ssenyonyi but he did not pick our calls.
When this reporter contacted two of the legislators who accompanied the NUP mouthpiece for a comment on the matter, they told us to look for Ssenyonyi adding that they are not in position to comment on that matter.
Both legislators from Buganda region did neither confirmed nor denied the meeting, but only asked us to look for Ssenyonyi. On Monday, an order was issued not to allow members of the public inside court martial premises including journalists.
It was only Ssenyonyi, the legislators, Makindye Division mayor Ali Kasirye Mulyanyama and lawyers George Musisi and Benjamin Katana who is also the NUP treasury general who were allowed inside.
Immediately after the in-camera case hearing, Ssenyonyi briefed journalists confirming that the bail application for the accused persons was entertained.
Unfortunately, the State asked for more time to respond to the grounds and submissions made by the accused lawyers but informed court that they were going to object to the bail application.
The accused persons are; Olivia Lutaaya, Rashid Seguya, Yasin Sekitoleko, Robert Rugumayo, Muhydin Kakooza, Patrick Mwase, Simon Kijjambo, Abdul Matovu, Ronald Kijambo, Sharif Kalanzi, Joseph Muwonge, Mesach Kiwanuka, Abdallah Kintu, Umar Kato, Musa Kavuma, Ibrahim Wandera, Asbert Nagwere, Steven Masakulu, Jimmy Galukande, Paul Muwanguzi, Sharif Matovu, Devis Matabi, Abdallah Gibusiwa, Livinston Katushabe, Swaib Katabi, Siraje Mudebo, Joseph Muganza and Steven Lwanga.
All the accused persons denied the charges related to being in possession of military store and terrorism. Recently, Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye was quoted saying that they reason why UPDF didn’t take action against Lilian Aber the Kitgum district woman legislator for slaying in military uniform was because she apologied for putting it on when she is not a military personel.
Kulayugye added that NUP supporters before military court refused to apologise because if they had apologised, the army was willing to forgive them. Highly placed sources close to Ssenyonyi told TV10GanoMazima that one of maiden plans is to make sure that political prisoners before court martial are released.
“I was surprised when he told me that he had to work with Anita, she was working with Mathias Mpuuga. I told him that he was brought in that office to change the narrative but he just ignored me and asked me to meet him on another day because he was having other assignments awaits him,” a staunch Senyonyi supporter who frequently publically attacked Mpuuga when he was still a Leader of Opposition in Parliament told TV10GanoMazima.
On Tuesday, Speaker Among made a surprise visit to Ssenyonyi’s office and sources disclosed that a number of issues including the release of NUP supporters were discussed.
Sources added that Speaker Among was very instrumental in helping Mpuuga secure court bail for Kawempe North legislator Muhammad Ssegirinya and his Makindye West comrade Allan Ssewanyana who were in detention on murder, attempted murder and terrorism charges.
Bobi Wine put Mpuuga’s name in the book of traitors and since then. He even distanced himself from Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana accusing them of negotiating with president Museveni’s people to be released.
Ssewanyana denied involving himself in any negotiations and challenged his accusers.
Sources in parliament told TV10GanoMazima that by the time Ssenyonyi was appointed LOP, Among had drawn up a plan on how to handle him after realizing that legally she cannot stop Mpuuga’s removal.
“She asked her personal legal assistant to guide him on whether there was any loophole which she can exploit to have Mpuuga stay as LOP for five years. She was advised that it was not possible,” a source said.
Sources added that when Mpuuga was removed from the Office of the LOP and appointed a commissioner of parliament, Among directed that he should be given a big office. It is alleged Mpuuga told her that he has many people who come to parliament from greater Masaka, Buganda and Catholic church to see him.
A former staff at parliament told TV10GanoMazima that Ssenyonyi is using the same script Mpuuga used when was fighting for Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana’s release, to have NUP supporters released.
Last week, Ssenyonyi and the legislators who were taken to court to stand surety for the accused persons were with him at Kitalya and Luzira prison where most supporters are kept.
However, a senior military officer told TV10GanoMazima that the release of NUP supporters is not going to be as easy as it was for Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana because Museveni was given reports detailing how the accused persons were organizing a deadly plan to put Kampala on fire a few days to the 2021 general election.
“They were given code names, the only thing that saved Kyagulanyi was he was not personally involved at the final stage. The boys through their commander asked him for Shs20m and his people only released Shs1m,” a senior military officer claims.
