Mao says he was involved in Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana release

Speaking to the media at the Democratic Party (DP) headquarters in Kampala on Tuesday 21 February, Mao, who also doubles as the president-general of the party, confirmed that he was part of the forces behind the release of the two legislators.

The legislators, Makindye West Member of parliament (MP) Allan Ssewanyana and Kawempe North MP Muhammed Ssegirinya, who have been on remand for close to two years, were released on February 13 on court bail granted by Masaka High Court.

Following their release, allegations of negotiations between the opposition and Government as a strong force behind their freedom rocked the Ugandan mainstream and social media.

He, however, said he cannot reveal all the details of the negotiations since their case is still before court, noting that whatever he did was to help the two families that were living in agony.

Mao said he had met Ssegirinya’s mother before and after becoming the minister. He explained that the legislator’s mother knelt and asked him to do whatever he can to see her son is out of jail.

The minister also stressed that bail is a constitutional right although their case was politicised.

The two were remanded on charges of murder, terrorism, and attempted murder relating to a spate of machete murders that rocked the Greater Masaka region in 2021.

Prosecution alleged that both MPs planned the murders at Happy Boys, Kalenda, and Kayanja Estate House in Kampala.

The legislators are battling capital offences which attract a maximum sentence of death upon conviction. Both legislators have been in jail since September 2021. This means the MPs have been in jail for at least two and half years.