By Mulengera Reporters
Political researcher and pundit Ssentamu Ssewandagi, who is also a budding lawyer, a few days ago appeared on Kewaza Media and narrated what he claimed was the ordeal Dr. Zahara Nampewo endured as she struggled to obtain legal representation for her incarcerated husband Mohammed Muwanga Kivumbi of NUP, who was arrested and charged with terrorism-related offences after unexpectedly losing his Butambala County MP Seat to independent candidate Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi.
Ssewandagi says that, even when she knew the recent political fallouts between Muwanga and his old friends, Nampewo overlooked all that and rang Medard Ssegona who unfortunately was on his way to the airport, Erias Lukwago who was preparing to go and vote for himself, Abdul Katuntu who frankly said no thank you, Peter Walubiri who asked for instruction fees and finally Asuman Basalirwa who tried to help but was frustrated because of the limited support he kept getting from the NUP top party leadership.
Ssewandagi says that Basalirwa’s willingness to help surprised Nampewo given the enthusiasm with which Muwanga Kivumbu had acquiesced as Bobi Wine de-campaigned his re-election as Bugiri Municipality MP barely two months ago. That Hon Katuntu, who two weeks ago lost his Bugweri County MP Seat, remains understandably hurt because of the crudeness with which Muwanga’s boss Bobi Wine de-campaigned him.
Ssewandagi says that Basalirwa immediately turned up at Kira Road Police station in Kampala, barely 1km from what used to be NUP headquarters, and guided Muwanga through his statement-making session. That Basalirwa required logistics to be able to travel to Butambala where Muwanga was to be arraigned before a Magistrate and Ssewandagi says he rang NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya and LoP Joel Ssenyonyi who briefly came to Kira Road Police station but left without availing the required logistics to facilitate the defence lawyer’s travel to Butambala.
Even when he was willing to travel using his own logistics, Basalirwa had another better-paying client’s matter in another court at 2pm which he preferred to first attend to before travelling to Butambala. That’s how the Magistrate stood over the matter for 2 hours as Muwanga’s defence lawyer was being awaited. Ssewandagi says after his 2pm matter, Basalirwa rang the two NUP principals back but still they were unable to pass on the facilitation to enable him fuel his car to Butambala.
That’s how the accused person ended up without legal representation, prompting the Magistrate to remand him to Kitalya prison. In those two hours as the matter was stood over, the prosecution worked up things and an additional count relating to terrorism was added, which means that the same Butambala Magistrate won’t have jurisdiction to try Muwanga Kivumbi. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
