____________________

KAMPALA - Four men have been charged with the murder of former acting Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Joan Namazzi Kagezi and remanded to Luzira Prison. 

Kagezi 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. 

Since then, investigations have been ongoing until last week when security agencies in conjunction with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) got a breakthrough in the matter. 

On Sunday, President Yoweri Museveni said investigators made a breakthrough in the Kagezi murder case and apprehended the suspects. 

“They were riding on two motorcycles,” said Museveni, who also congratulated the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and the Police’s Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) on the good work. 

The accused are Daniel Kisekka, 43, John Kibuuka alias Musa, 32, John Masajjage alias Brian Mubiru alias Badru alias Chongo, 50, and Nasur Abdallah Mugonole, 39. (All Photos by Simon Peter Tumwine)

The accused are Daniel Kisekka, 43, John Kibuuka alias Musa, 32, John Masajjage alias Brian Mubiru alias Badru alias Chongo, 50, and Nasur Abdallah Mugonole, 39. 

On Monday, Nakawa Chief Magistrate Elias Kakooza read out charges of terrorism and murder to the accused persons. 

The offences elicit a maximum punishment of death, upon conviction. 

However, the magistrate refused the accused to plead to the charges, saying the offences slapped on them are capital in nature and only triable by the High Court. 

The Assistant DPP Thomas Jatiko and Chief State Attorney Lilian Omara informed the court that inquiries into the matter are almost complete. 

"We pray that you adjourned the case to another date to help the Police complete inquiries," Jatiko requested. 

The court was fully packed with state attorneys from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and Kagezi’s family members. 

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

The magistrate adjourned the case to November 20, 2023, for mention.