The High Court’s International Crimes Division in Kampala Monday sentenced former UPDF soldier Daniel Kisekka to 35 years in prison for the 2015 assassination of Senior Assistant DPP Joan Namazzi Kagezi, following a plea bargain agreement with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Kisekka, a deserter from the Gulu-based military unit, admitted to the gruesome killing in exchange for leniency and the dropping of terrorism-related charges. He will now serve 34 years behind bars, after deduction of one year spent on remand.
Kagezi, who was gunned down on March 30, 2015, in Kiwatule while returning home with her children, had been prosecuting several high-profile terrorism cases, including the deadly 2010 Kampala bombings trial. Her assassination sent shockwaves across the country and left the justice system reeling.
Court documents reveal that Kisekka, alongside co-accused John Kibuuka alias Musa, John Masajjage alias Mubiru Brian, and Nasur Abdallah Mugonole, were hired to eliminate Kagezi.
The convict told court that they were paid $20,000 by an unnamed high-profile figure who was reportedly aggrieved by Kagezi’s role in terrorism prosecutions involving Muslim suspects, although investigators have long linked the plot to ADF rebel operatives.
Kisekka confessed to stealing two AK-47 rifles from the army in Gulu before joining the criminal gang, which is believed to have been involved in a string of robberies across the country before executing the Kagezi plot.
The media were barred from photographing Kisekka during Monday’s court session, citing national security concerns. His co-accused are expected to stand trial on full charges of murder and terrorism.
The Office of the DPP has welcomed the conviction and reiterated its commitment to pursuing the remaining suspects, including those believed to be in foreign jurisdiction
Joan Kagezi’s killing not only robbed Uganda of one of its most fearless prosecutors but also exposed the risks faced by judicial officers handling terrorism cases.
Her legacy, however, continues to inspire reforms within the criminal justice system and the establishment of enhanced protective measures for prosecutors.
