Allan Ssewanyana of Makindye West and Muhammad Ssegirinya of Kawempe North, both members of parliament, have disputed claims that they had discussions with the administration about being released from prison.
The two made their first public appearance since being freed on February 13 by Masaka High Court Judge Lawrence Tweyanze when they spoke to the media on Wednesday at the National Unity Platform Headquarters in Kampala.
After they were freed, media rumours surfaced that a deal had been made with the government to guarantee their release.
The MPs asserted that they were not aware of such negotiations and would not have paid their bail money if such talks had taken place despite Nobert Mao, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, having claimed to have quietly arranged for their release before their release.
Ssewanyana thinks that those making these accusations were doing so for political reasons.
“We are aware that many people are considering applying for our positions. Some people, in my opinion, are fighting against us because they believe that my arrest would provide me a competitive advantage in the elections of 2026 “He said.
Ssewanyana explained that they had been healing in the hospital after having a number of health problems when asked why they hadn’t spoken to the media since their release.
Negotiations about illegal detention, according to Ssegirinya, are not feasible while the parties involved are still unsure of the circumstances behind their first arrest. He continued by saying that the administration was forced to release them as a result of pressure from their constituents.
This comes two months after the leader of the National Unity Platform, Robert Kyagulanyi nicknamed Bobi Wine, rebuffed requests from party members to negotiate the release of political prisoners with the government, claiming the need to first address President Museveni’s term limit.
