By Ivan Mwine
The health condition of Kawempe North Member of Parliament Muhammad Ssegirinya, whose leg is rotting, is deteriorating by the day.
Although bedridden Ssegirinya is being kept under right security by the Uganda Prisons authorities and other security agencies, very disturbing photos of him lying on his sickbed writhing in pain have since leaked on social media.
According to the photos that have been seen by this website, Ssegirinya is visibly in a worrying state, yet to date the government is still denying him access to his personal doctors or an opportunity to seek specialized medical attention abroad.
It should be noted that the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hon. Anita Among last week directed the Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng to deliver to Parliament a report about Ssegirinya’s health condition and whether or not he should be granted permission to seek medical attention abroad.
However, although the Minister dispatched a team to Mulago National Referral Hospital to visit Ssegirinya and determine his exact health condition, Parliament is yet to receive the report that was compiled by the team.
It is not yet clear whether he is still at Mulago but according to the Parliament Website Ssegirinya has since been transferred back to Murchison Bay Prison at Luzira.
Parliament is currently engaged in talks with different stakeholders to see that that the Kawempe North MP, Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya who is currently in a prison hospital, receives treatment in a better medical facility.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Among, who chaired the House on Thursday, 28 October 2021, said that Ssegirinya who is in Murchison Bay Hospital in Luzira Maximum Security Prison is getting treated for an ailment he developed while in prison.
“We resolved to work out a way of getting a referral for the MP to a better specialised facility so that he can get medical attention that is befitting of his status as a Member of Parliament,” Among said.
She added that the Parliament Commission is directly engaging government to ensure that this treatment is facilitated.
“I wish to allay the fears of the public and assure them that we are giving this matter priority,” Among added.
The Leader of the Opposition, Hon Mathias Mpuuga said that he had visited Ssegirinya earlier and confirmed that he was not well.
“I wish to implore that state that while they have a right to arrest and try, they will not be able to prosecute and take to court someone in a bad health condition,” he said adding that, “I agree with the Speaker that the House do take up this matter and have the member given appropriate treatment.”
Ssegirinya and Makindye West Member of Parliament, Hon Allan Ssewanyana are facing charges of attempted murder, murder and terrorism, after they were linked to the murders that took place in the Greater Masaka region in September.
The two legislators had earlier released on bail but were re-arrested by security agencies and since then they have been in detention.
