The International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala has sentenced Daniel Kisekka Kiwanuka, a former UPDF officer, to 35 years in prison for the murder of Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Joan Kagezi Namazzi.
The tragic incident occurred nearly a decade ago in Kiwatule, a suburb of Kampala.
Kisekka, who pleaded guilty to the charge of murder, was sentenced on May 19th, 2025, following a plea bargain agreement with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The agreement was confirmed by Assistant DPP Thomas Jatiko and Chief State Attorney Jacqueline Okui.
Before the court confirmed the murder charge, Jatiko presented a withdrawal form in which the DPP led by Jane Frances Abodo, dropped terrorism charges against Kisekka.
This allowed the court to proceed solely with the murder charge, as indicated in the form dated May 12th, 2025.
According to Jatiko, Kisekka, a former UPDF officer stationed in Gulu, deserted his post and stole five AK-47 rifles. With the assistance of John Kibuka, Kisekka brought the stolen weapons to Kampala.
In Nabweru, Kisekka met with his co-accused—Abdullah Nasulu Mugonole, John Kibuka, and John Masajjage alias Brian—and they began a life of armed robbery using the stolen firearms. One of the weapons was lost during a failed robbery in Kiboga.
In 2008, Kisekka and his co-accused were arrested during the infamous Operation Wembley, which aimed at curbing the rising wave of robberies across the country.
Police recovered a second gun and four magazines during the operation.
The group was subsequently remanded at the General Court Martial.
However, while detained at Makindye Military Barracks, Kisekka escaped and fled to Kayunga District, where he later engaged in a charcoal business.
The court heard that in February 2015, Kibuka visited Kisekka in Kayunga’s Galilaya Village and suggested that they kill Joan Kagezi, whom he falsely believed was a judge.
Kisekka eventually agreed to the murder-for-hire proposal in exchange for a fee of $200,000 but initially paid them Shs2 million to share equally.
Jatiko explained that the sponsor of the murder was described as a “high-profile person,” with the motive allegedly linked to Kagezi’s involvement in prosecuting Muslim-related cases.
Kisekka later traveled to Kampala and met his co-accused in Kyebando for final instructions.
Each of them received Shs500, 000 for their role in the murder.
On the evening of March 30th, 2015, Kisekka and his co-accused intercepted Kagezi along the road at Ntinda as she was on her way home with three children.
Kibuka shot Kagezi twice in the neck, and the group fled the scene toward Najjera.
Kisekka was arrested in October 2023 in Luwero on theft charges. While in custody, authorities discovered he was wanted for the murder of Kagezi.
In his statement to the court, Kisekka apologized to the government, the children of the deceased Kagezi, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and the public, asking for forgiveness for his criminal actions.
Kagezi’s children, George Phillip Kulubya and his sister Carole, presented an emotional victim impact statement, expressing that while their mother will never return, they believe in justice and are relieved by the court’s decision.
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