By Peter Sebulime & Frank Kamuntu
Court in Masaka has Tuesday afternoon granted bail to Lwemiyaga County Member of Parliament Theodore Ssekikubo, who is charged with attempted murder, assault, illegal possession of firearms, among other charges.
There was heavy police deployment all over Masaka magistrates Court whereby police blocked journalists, lawyers and Ssekikubo’ s supporters.
However, basing on the latest information, the compound of Masaka Magistrates court was filled with hundreds of Ssekikubo’s supporters, who carried him shoulder high like a champion after he was granted bail.
Hon. Ssekikubo was arrested on Friday 10th morning amidst scuffle that involved hundreds of herdsmen and cattle dealers who were resisting a blockage of their movement to the cattle market in Lwemiyaga town council.
Ssekikubo’s arrest followed a bitter standoff between him and Sembabule district security authorities, who he accuses of enforcing an unjustifiable quarantine on the sub-counties of Lwemiyaga and Ntuusi despite them being free from Foot and Mouth Disease.
Hon Sekikubo had mobilized farmers and dealers in the area to defy the quarantine and forcefully open the closed Lwemiyaga market. This prompted the police to intervene and block their attempts.
According to Ssekikubo, the quarantine circular by the commissioner in charge of Animal Health only ordered the closure of cattle markets in the affected sub-counties of Rugusuulu and Mitima which are located very far away from Lwemiyaga
