Detention of MPs Shows Uganda’s Opposition is Vulnerable to Government Control- Tamale Mirundi.

Following the release of the long detention of NUP’s Muhammad Ssegirinya (Kawempe north MP) and Allan Ssewanyana (Makindye West West)  , the former Senior Presidential Press Secretary Joseph Tamale Mirundi has said that this is a clear message that President Yoweri Museveni’s government can do whatever it wants to the opposition.

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On Tuesday while speaking about the release of two lawmakers, Mirundi said most Members of Parliament from the opposition always think that President Museveni fears them, and think they can do whatever they want because they have immunity as legislators, however, Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana are an example that Museveni can do anything to anyone regardless of his or her portfolio.

“The long detention of these two MPs is a government’s achievement. It has destroyed this myth of impunity especially done by most members of the opposition and this is a warning to everybody, how long have they stayed in detention? They now know that no matter your portfolio if Museveni wants you in, he will surely put you in,” the veteran journalist said.

 ‘the opposition should not think that it was their pressure on the government that led to the release of Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana, however, they were released because the state had lost interest in their case since machete-wielding gang killings in Masaka had stopped.’’ He added.

“Government had lost interest in the case why? Because the Machete-wielding gangs had stopped and Parliament thought it could finish this case by politics not knowing they were forcing Museveni to show them who has power. If Museveni can put laws on Kabaka then who are these poor MPs? There is no revolutionary leader who can tolerate this thing called immunity for MPs because the moment he does that he will lose power. So this is a great milestone for Museveni. They thought they will use publicity to intimidate Museveni but he has showed them,” he said.

The two legislators had been on remand since September 2021, after being accused of having hand machete-wielding gang killings which happened in the Greater Masaka.

The MPs were given a cash bail of Shs20m each while their sureties were bonded at Shs 50m non-cash.

Ssegirinya , Ssewanyana and other  five including Mike Sserwadda, Jude Muwonge, Bull Wamala, John Mugerwa and Jackson Kanyike were accused of murder, attempted murder, aiding and abetting terrorism stemming from the 2021 spate of killings in Masaka and Lwengo districts of Greater Masaka region where unknown assailants using machetes killed more than 20 people in one month.