Kagezi murder case hearing resumes

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The hearing of a case in which three people are accused of killing the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Kagezi resumes Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at the International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala.

The three are John Kibuuka aka Musa, John Massajjage aka Mubiru Brian and Nasur Abdallah Mugonole. They have since denied killing Kagezi.

Justices Duncan Gaswaga, Andrew Bashaija, Richard Wejuli Wabwire and Joyce Kavuma are handling the case. Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Lino Anguzu is prosecuting the case while lawyer Elizabeth Nampola is defending the suspects.

So far, over five witnesses have testified in the matter including traditional healer Francis Olowo Kaweesa, who informed the court that the accused went to his shrine at Namawuga in Kayunga district, seeking protection.

Kaweesa told the court that Daniel Kiwanuka Kisekka presented the three accused persons to him for protection.

“The accused individuals visited my shrine seeking protection but they refused to disclose to me the issue they were facing,” the witness said.

On May 19, this year, the 43-year-old Kisekka was convicted and handed a 35-year prison term by the court upon his own plea of guilty in the murder of Kagezi. Kisekka is a former Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces soldier.

Kisekka claimed under oath that he was told by one of his colleagues, Kibuuka, that a man identified only as “Nixon” had contracted them to kill Kagezi. This resulted in Nickson Karuhanga Agasirwe’s arrest on May 21, this year.

Agasirwe, the Senior Superintendent of Police and former Flying Squad Unit operative Abdul Noor Ssemujju, alias Minaana, are currently battling charges of murder at Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court in connection to Kagezi’s murder. Investigations into their case are still ongoing.

The court heard that Kaweesa, who was also a primary teacher at Bugonya Church of Uganda School, is currently on remand at Kigo main prison on charges of defilement.  Kaweesa, a resident of Namabuga LC 1 Kyelima parish in Kayunga district, told the court that he has worked as a traditional doctor since 1993.

The case

Kagezi was shot dead at about 7:15pm on March 30, 2015, in Kiwatule, a Kampala suburb, as she drove home with her children.

She had stopped at a fruit stall by the roadside to purchase fruits when assailants riding on a motorcycle opened fire at her car. The autopsy report indicated that she was shot twice in the neck and shoulder, through the window on the driver’s seat.

Agasirwe, Minaana’s allegations

It is alleged that Agasirwe, 54, a resident of Kiyinda Ward in Kira municipality, Wakiso district, Minaana and others still at large on March 30, 2015, at Kiwatule in Nakawa Division with malice aforethought caused the death of Kagezi.

Under section 171 and 172 of the Penal Code Act, the offence of murder elicits a maximum sentence of death upon conviction.