By KT Reporter
Daniel Kisekka, the confessed killer of former Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Joan Kagezi Namazzi, took to the stand on Tuesday and pinned his three accomplices. He appeared before the International Crimes Division of the High Court, where a panel of four justices—Dr. Andrew Bashaija (presiding), Joyce Kavuma, Duncan Gaswaga, and Richard Wejuli Wabwire are hearing the high-profile case.
The prosecution accuses John Kibuuka, John Masajjagge, and Nasur Abudallah Mugonole of terrorism and the March 30, 2015, murder of Kagezi. Kisekka, aged 43, is the second prosecution witness. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Monday after entering a plea bargain with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). In exchange for pleading guilty to murder, the terrorism charges against him were dropped.
On Tuesday, Kisekka testified against his former co-accused. He told the court that he had known the three men since childhood and that they used to work in bakeries around Kalerwe before he joined the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in 2002. After completing his military training in 2003, Kisekka said he met Kibuuka, who persuaded him to desert the 4th Division in Gulu, steal guns, and return to Kampala to engage in robberies.
Kisekka admitted to committing multiple motorcycle robberies and targeting microfinance institutions for cash across the country. Eventually, he said, they were drawn into a plot to assassinate Joan Kagezi. He told the panel of justices that after escaping from Makindye Military Barracks in July 2011, he returned to his home village of Namaliri in Mukono, where he farmed tomatoes and watermelons and later took up charcoal burning.
It was there, Kisekka testified, that Kibuuka found him and presented an offer of 200,000 US dollars to kill “judge” Kagezi, accusing her of interfering in Muslim-related cases. Kisekka said Kibuuka did not reveal who wanted Kagezi eliminated, but assured him that the individual would supply them with firearms. Two days before the murder, Kisekka said he visited Mugonole’s home in Nabweru to clean and oil two guns that would be used during the assassination. On the day of the attack—March 30, 2015—Kibuuka reportedly called the group at 5 p.m. to be on standby. They met under a mango tree in Kyebando, where Kisekka handed one of the guns and a magazine to Kibuuka. Each of them received Shs 500,000 as a deposit for the job.
They rode in pairs on two motorcycles—Masajjagge with Kibuuka, and Mugonole with Kisekka. The group moved through Bahai and Ntinda to Kiwatule Church, where they parked and waited for Kagezi’s car. Kisekka told the court that around 7 p.m., Kagezi’s white double-cabin vehicle was parked by a fruit vendor. At that moment, Kibuuka raised his thumb, signalling the attack. Masajjagge rode past Kagezi’s car, and Kibuuka jumped off and shot her twice.
Kisekka said he then fired a bullet into the air to disperse onlookers and assist Kibuuka’s escape. He added that Kibuuka first confirmed Kagezi was dead before they fled. After the shooting, the group reportedly rode to Nsooba and Kanyanya. The following day, they visited a witch doctor to perform rituals to avoid arrest.
Kisekka is expected to continue his testimony on Wednesday, led by Assistant DPP Lino Anguzu. It has taken prosecutors and investigators almost eight years to bring the suspects in Joan Kagezi’s murder to trial. Earlier on Tuesday, the court also heard from Kagezi’s daughter, Carole Namugambe Kagezi, who was in the same vehicle with her mother and siblings when the shooting occurred-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
