Guilty Joan Kagezi killer gets three decades jail time, ten years after gruesome gun murder

Ten years after the tragic assassination of former Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Namazzi Kagezi, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has secured a major breakthrough: a guilty plea and conviction of one of her killers.

Appearing before the High Court at the International Crimes Division on Monday, Kisekka Daniel Kiwanuka, 47, a former corporal in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), pleaded guilty to murder under a plea bargain arrangement and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

“This conviction marks a historic step forward in our relentless pursuit of justice for Joan Kagezi,” said Jacquelyn Okui, the ODPP’s Public Relations Officer. “It sends a powerful message that the arm of the law remains long, steady, and determined.”

Kisekka confessed to taking part in the premeditated killing of Kagezi on March 30, 2015, an attack that stunned the nation and shattered Uganda’s legal fraternity. He revealed that he and other co-accused were part of a criminal mission reportedly commissioned by an unidentified high-profile individual, with a promised payout of USD 200,000. Each received an advance of UGX 500,000 to execute the assassination.

According to the plea agreement, Kisekka acted as backup alongside Nasur Abdallah Mugonole, while the gunmen—Kibuuka John and Massajjage John—carried out the actual shooting. The murder happened in Kiwatule, Kampala, as Kagezi sat in her car, tragically in the presence of her children. Two fatal shots were fired into her neck.

Although the initial investigation was swift and intense, leads ran cold—until 2023. Kisekka’s arrest in Luwero on unrelated charges reignited the case. During interrogation, he confessed to his role, provided critical information that corroborated the evidence, and even led investigators to a witchdoctor who reportedly performed protective rituals on the assassins to evade justice.

His criminal history traces back to 2008 with a charge of aggravated robbery before the General Court Martial. He had escaped military custody and remained at large for years. The murder weapon, it turns out, was among the cache of arms he stole after deserting the UPDF in 2006.

“This plea bargain not only unearths the truth behind a decade-old tragedy but also exposes the brutal layers of organized crime that Joan Kagezi fearlessly fought against,” Okui noted. “It reaffirms our institution’s resolve to dismantle such networks through lawful and strategic means.”

Presiding over the case were Justices Michael Elubu (Head of Panel), Stephen Mubiru, Dr. Winfred Nabisinde, and Celia Nagawa. The ODPP was represented by Thomas Jatiko, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions.

The court highlighted aggravating factors, including the public and brutal nature of the crime, the presence of Kagezi’s children, and the profit-driven motive behind the murder. Kisekka’s sentence was confirmed as agreed in the plea deal—35 years behind bars.

The case against the remaining suspects—Kibuuka John, Massajjage John, and Nasur Abdallah Mugonole—is still ongoing.

Joan Kagezi, who headed the ODPP’s International Crimes Department at the time of her death, had led prosecutions in major terrorism and war crimes trials. Her murder shocked the nation and sparked widespread demands for better protection of prosecutors and judicial officers.

“The successful conviction of one of her killers restores hope—not just in our criminal justice system—but in the principle that no one is above the law,” Okui emphasized. “Whether protected by rank, rituals, or time, justice will prevail.”

The ODPP extended gratitude to the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) for their crucial role in piecing together the evidence that led to this long-awaited conviction.

As the ODPP continues to pursue justice in high-profile cases, this milestone serves as a clarion call: Impunity has no place in Uganda.