By Aggrey Baba
The wheels of justice may turn slowly, but they never stop. More than eight years after the brutal assassination of Senior Principal State Attorney Joan Namazzi Kagezi, the International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala has confirmed terrorism and murder charges against four men accused of orchestrating her killing.
Lady Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha ruled, on Tuesday, that the evidence presented by the prosecution was strong enough to put Daniel Kisekka Kiwanuka, John Kibuuka (Musa), John Masajjage (Brian Mubiru, Badru, and Chongo), and Nasur Abdalla Mugonole on trial.
The accused face charges of terrorism under the Anti-Terrorism Act 2002 and murder under the Penal Code Act.
Joan Kagezi was a formidable prosecutor, known for her fearlessness in handling high-profile terrorism and organized crime cases.
At the time of her death, she was the lead prosecutor in several critical cases, including the trial of suspects linked to the 2010 Kampala bombings that killed dozens during a World Cup screening. Her work often put her at odds with dangerous criminal networks, yet she remained steadfast in her pursuit of justice.
On the evening of March 30, 2015, Kagezi’s life was cut short in a manner as chilling as it was brazen. While driving home with her children in Kiwatule, a Kampala suburb, she stopped by the roadside to buy fruit from a vendor. It was then that two gunmen on a motorcycle rode up beside her vehicle.
Without hesitation, they opened fire, striking her in the neck. As her terrified children watched in horror, the assailants sped off into the night, leaving the fearless prosecutor slumped in her seat.
Her murder sent shockwaves through Uganda’s legal and security circles. It was a direct attack on the rule of law, seemingly aimed at silencing those who stood against terrorism and organized crime.
During the pre-trial hearings, Assistant DPP Thomas Jatiko, representing the prosecution, argued that Kagezi’s killing was not just an act of murder but a deliberate terrorist attack meant to intimidate the government and the public.
“She was a senior prosecutor working on some of the country’s most sensitive cases. Her assassination was meant to strike fear in those handling similar cases and disrupt legal proceedings,” Jatiko explained.
Justice Khaukha agreed with this assessment, stating, “The death of Assistant DPP Joan Namazzi Kagezi is not contested. It is also clear that her killing was unlawful and carried out with malice aforethought. The manner in which it was executed, in broad daylight, reinforced its intended message of terror.”
The court found that evidence from eyewitnesses, forensic reports, and intelligence-gathering efforts sufficiently linked the accused to the crime. The judge ruled that there was substantial reason to believe they were involved, setting the stage for a full trial.
For years, Kagezi’s family, colleagues, and the nation have sought answers and accountability for her assassination. Now, as the accused prepare to face justice, Uganda inches closer to ensuring that those who orchestrated this act are held accountable.
As the saying goes, [The night may be long, but the morning always comes]. And for the memory of Joan Kagezi and the pursuit of justice, that morning may finally be on the horizon. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
