Members of Parliament Allan Ssewanyana, (Makindye West) and Muhammad Ssegirinya (Kawempe North) on Monday appeared before the International Crimes Division of the High Court-ICD.
The court has kicked off the pretrial into murder ,attempted murder and terrorism charges on the duo in relation to crimes committed in the Greater Masaka Region.Today, the court was dealing with the further marking of exhibits of the evidence.
However, the Mps through their lawyer Evans Ochieng asked the court to hold the trial until a constitutional court Petition and two other applications to stay the criminal proceedings have been handled.
The Mps run to the Constitutional Court seeking to stop the trial on grounds that they were tortured and their human rights violated during their re-arrest following bail. Similarly, City lawyer Male Mabirizi filed an application to halt the trial because the MPs are facing same charges at two courts in Kampala and Masaka.
High Court Judge Alice Komuhangi Khaukha adjourned the matter to April 3, 2023, and directed the parties to be present and agree on whether to have the two applications for stay of proceedings consolidated or heard separately.
However, their co accused including Jackson Kanyike, John Mugerwa, Bull Wamala, and Mike Sserwadda disagree with the applications staying trial, through their lawyer Wilbert Muhereza , they contend that their trial has been delayed and they have been denied bail despite spending one year and nine months in prison.
They are demanding a speedy trial instead.
Prosecution led by Richard Birivumbuka say they are ready to proceed with the trial.