The murder trial of former Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Namazzi Kagezi has entered its final stage after the defense concluded its evidence before the International Crimes Division of the High Court.
The case against John Kibuuka, John Masajjage and Nassur Abdullah Mugonole now awaits the trial Judges to sum up the evidence for the assessor so that she can give her opinion on whether to convict or acquit them before the judgment is made.This comes after all the accused denied taking part in Kagezi’s killing.
The four judges handling the matter are: Justice Andrew Bashaija, who heads the panel, Justice Richard Wabwire Wejuli, Lady Justice Joyce Kavuma and Justice Duncan Gaswaga.
Kagezi was shot dead on March 30, 2015, at Kiwatule in Kampala as she travelled home with her children.
The final defence witness, Abdul Shafik Zziwa, alias Green, appeared in court today in support of Mugonole.
Altogether, the defense brought four witnesses after they were found two months ago with a case to answer and were ordered to defend themselves.
Zziwa, a resident of Luzira Murchison Bay prison, has disputed the prosecution’s claim that Mugonole participated in the shooting. He testified that he was with Mugonole at Old Kampala Police Station on the evening Kagezi was killed. He alleged that Mugonole is not the one who shot Kagezi, but that it was a one Hamis Kakaire and Daniel Kisekka Kiwanuka.
He said he was at the police station with Mugonole between approximately 6 pm and 9 pm and told the court that he had known Mugonole for about 25 years.
Zziwa, who identified himself as a UPDF Major, said he is serving a prison sentence following convictions for rape and aggravated defilement.
His evidence was intended to provide Mugonole with an alibi and challenge the prosecution’s account of his involvement in the assassination. The defense evidence followed a ruling by the trial panel of Judges in July that the three men had a case to answer after prosecutors presented their evidence. All three accused subsequently testified on oath and rejected allegations that they were directly responsible for Kagezi’s death.
Their accounts instead sought to place responsibility for the killing on other individuals, including former Inspector General of Police General Kale Kayihura and former senior police officer Nixon Agasirwe Karuhanga.
Agasirwe has been in jail for more than a year together with Abdulnoor Ssemujju, commonly known as Minana, also on Kagezi murder charges. Their case is yet to be heard in another separate session of the trial.
In his defense previously, Mugonole also made allegations concerning the alleged surveillance of Kagezi before her death.
He told the court that her mobile phone had allegedly been tracked and that information about her movements was shared among people he claimed were involved in the operation.
He further alleged that Kagezi had documents concerning Gen. Kayihura and that she had rejected an alleged offer of one billion shillings to surrender the documents.
The prosecution’s case has largely relied on the evidence of Daniel Kisekka Kiwanuka, who was initially charged alongside the three accused.
Kisekka pleaded guilty to participating in the murder and received a 35-year prison sentence after reaching a plea agreement with the prosecution. He later testified against his former co-accused.
According to Kisekka’s evidence, the group used motorcycles to follow Kagezi before the attack. He alleged that Kibuuka was the person who fired at Kagezi, while other members of the group assisted in the operation and escape.
Kisekka also told the court that the group possessed two firearms and ammunition and later travelled to Kayunga, where they allegedly sought assistance from a traditional healer to help them avoid detection.
The prosecution has argued that the killing was deliberate and motivated by financial considerations. Kagezi was attacked while seated in her vehicle and suffered fatal gunshot injuries to her neck and chest.
The investigation and subsequent arrests took nearly nine years after the murder. Some of the suspects were eventually traced through investigations into other offences, while Kisekka was linked to the murder after his arrest in connection with another case.
The court is now expected to sum up the case before receiving the opinion of Lady Assessor Judith Muhairwe tomorrow, September 9th, 2026.
The assessor has been following the proceedings on behalf of the public and will give her opinion before the judges make their final decision. The three accused remain on remand at Luzira Prison, although some are convicts on other aggravated robbery crimes-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
