The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, has said parliamentary powers and privileges do not apply to two MPs currently incarcerated at Kitalya Prison over their alleged involvement in two murders in Masaka, but will check on them to establish their conditions in jail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MPs Muhammad Ssegirinya (NUP, Kawempe North) and Allan Ssewanyana (NUP, Makindye West) were yesterday jailed at Kitalya Prison after being charged and remanded by Masaka Chief Magistrate Charles Yeteise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prosecution accused them over the murders of Mugerwa Kiiza Francis alias Nswa and Sulaiman Kakooza in Settaala cell, Masaka City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MP Ibrahim Ssemujju (FDC, Kira Municipality) rose on procedure, saying Parliament should look into the issue of the two MPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is a matter that touches on our privilege and protection as Members of Parliament. We need to know whether this institution is taking any steps to offer them any help that they may need (sic),\u201d said Ssemujju.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaker Oulanyah said Parliament may not do much, since the law has to take its due course, and that Parliamentary privileges are limited to their speech in plenary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCharges have been preferred and they have been remanded; Parliamentary Privileges have limitations\u2026when you become an MP, you cannot engage in any act [because] the privilege is confined to free speech in the House,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added: \u201cWhen a Member of this House has been found in conflict with the law, the law must take its course. Once these processes have started, we cannot interfere; let\u2019s respect the court process for now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oulanyah said he will visit the MPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am personally going to see them wherever they are,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recent Masaka murders have divided politicians, with the opposition crying foul and government insisting there is a hand of politics in the harrowing criminality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a recent speech, President Museveni said the murders are politically motivated but added that the security and intelligence apparatus will clamp down on the perpetrators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At a news conference, the duo\u2019s lawyer Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago slammed the charges as politically motivated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parliamentary News<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, has said parliamentary powers and privileges do not apply to two MPs currently incarcerated at Kitalya Prison over their alleged involvement in two murders in Masaka, but will check on them to establish their conditions in jail. MPs Muhammad Ssegirinya (NUP, Kawempe North) and Allan Ssewanyana (NUP, Makindye West) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27983,"featured_media":22070,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_paywall_metabox":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[98],"tags":[31,6149],"class_list":["post-26286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-featured","tag-jacob-oulanyah"],"yoast_head":"\n