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The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Jane Frances Abodo, is analysing crucial evidence to be used in the alleged murder of senior prosecutor Joan Namazzi Kagezi.

Four men have so far been charged for the alleged murder. They include Daniel Kisekka, 43, John Kibuuka alias Musa, 32, John Masajjage alias Brian Mubiru alias Badru alias Chongo, 50, and Nasur Abdallah Mugonole, 39.

“Investigations into the matter are complete and the Police file has been received by the DPP who is reviewing the same as we prepare committal papers for purposes of sending the accused to the High Court to face trial,” the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Thomas Jatiko revealed.

He made the disclosure yesterday before Nakawa Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Elias Kakooza.

Kagezi, the former acting Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was gunned down in her vehicle on the evening of March 30, 2015 in Kiwatule, a Kampala suburb.

The assailants trailed Kagezi, the mother of four, and shot her when she stopped to buy fruits in Kiwatule, a suburb in Kampala.

Jatiko also asked the court to issue a production warrant against the accused persons to have them produced before the court on December 11, 2023, a request the magistrate granted.

The accused are battling charges of terrorism, contrary to sections 7 (1)(a) and 2 (b) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2002 and murder, contrary to sections 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act.

The offences of terrorism and murder attracts a maximum punishment of death on conviction.

Since the charges of terrorism and murder are capital in nature, the accused will take plea at the High Court when their trial commences.

Under the criminal justice system in Uganda, suspects in capital offences, such as murder, are first charged before the magistrates’ court and later committed to the High Court for trial after investigations are complete.

According to the charge sheet sanctioned by the DPP, on November 3, 2023, Kibuuka and Mugonole have been serving a jail term following their conviction for aggravated robbery, while Masajjage has been on remand pending trial on the same charge.

Kibuuka has been at Kigo Prison while Masajjage and Mugonole have been at Kitalya Prison. On the other hand, Kisekka has been a charcoal burner and a resident of Nsanvu village in Kitimbwa town council, Kayunga district.

The charges

Prosecution alleges that the four and others still at large on March 30, 2015, at Kiwatule in Nakawa Division, Kampala, with malice aforethought, unlawfully caused the death of Kagezi.

Regarding terrorism, the prosecution alleges that the accused and others still at large, for the purposes of influencing the Government or intimidating the public for religious, economic, or social aims indiscriminately without due regard to the safety of others who attacked Kagezi and murdered her.

Born on July 14, 1967, in Luteete, Rakai district, Kagezi was gunned down in her vehicle before her children on March 30, 2015, in Kiwatule as she went home. She had made a stopover to buy groceries on her way back home.

At the time of her murder, Kagezi was pursuing a master’s in business administration, and she had also applied for the position of a High Court judge.

She was also the lead prosecutor in the Kampala 2010 twin bombing case before Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, now the current Chief Justice.

Over 76 people were killed in the attacks and some of the perpetrators have since been convicted and are serving life imprisonment.