Daniel Kisekka Sentenced to 35 Years for the Murder of Joan Kagezi

Daniel Kisekka has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for the murder of Joan Kagezi in 2015. He pleaded guilty under a plea bargain, revealing a conspiracy involving several accomplices. Kagezi was shot in front of her children, and the case represents a significant judicial milestone after years of investigation. The sensational nature of this case highlights concerns about safety for judicial professionals in Uganda.

In a significant development, the High Court’s International Crimes Division has sentenced Daniel Kisekka to 35 years in prison for the 2015 murder of Joan Kagezi, a respected Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions. The court accepted Kisekka’s guilty plea today, closing a nearly decade-long investigation that gripped the nation following Kagezi’s shocking assassination.

Kisekka, a 47-year-old former corporal in the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces, confessed to his role in the premeditated killing. He participated under a plea bargain that will see him serving 34 years, accounting for one year already spent in custody. The details revealed a grim conspiracy involving multiple individuals, with Kagezi tragically shot twice in the neck by Kibuuka as she sat with her children in her car.

The court heard that Kisekka and another accomplice, Nasur Abdallah Mugonole, acted as backups during the attack, while Kibuuka and another, Massajjage John, carried out the execution. They were reportedly promised UGX 500,000 as a down payment, with an additional USD 200,000 due upon the murder’s completion. This chilling revelation sheds light on the depths of the conspiracy, beneath the surface of Kagezi’s professional life.

This conviction represents a breakthrough in one of Uganda’s more notorious criminal investigations, which had stagnated for years. It was not until 2023, following Kisekka’s unrelated arrest in Luwero District, that he began to connect the dots in the case. His confession reignited the investigations and revived hopes for justice.

Kisekka’s criminal history spans back to 2008, with prior convictions including aggravated robbery and desertion from military service in 2006. Remarkably, Kisekka had managed to evade justice for years, allegedly due to mystical protections put in place by a witch doctor.

In passing the sentence, the court noted aggravating factors such as the presence of Kagezi’s children during the crime, and the planning that went into the assassination. The judicial panel included Justice Michael Elubu, Justice Stephen Mubiru, Justice Dr. Winfred Nabisinde, and Justice Celia Nagawa. Thomas Jatiko, who represented the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), emphasized this case’s importance.

Jacquelyn Okui, the ODPP’s Public Relations Officer, commented on the conviction, expressing how it shows the institution’s commitment to justice, regardless of time. Kagezi was leading the International Crimes Department at her death and was notable for her work on significant terrorism and war crimes cases, which made her assassination particularly tragic.

The legal proceedings against the remaining suspects in this case, Kibuuka, Massajjage, and Nasur, continue. Kisekka’s guilty plea serves as a stern warning against organized crime in Uganda and reinforces the principle that no one is beyond the reach of the law, irrespective of their past affiliations with military or other powerful groups. It serves to highlight not only the importance of justice in this case but also the effectiveness of plea bargaining in combatting criminal enterprises.

The conviction of Daniel Kisekka in the murder of Joan Kagezi represents a crucial step toward justice in a case that had long baffled investigators. The guilty plea and associated insights into the conspiracy emphasize the continuing resolve of Ugandan prosecutors to hold individuals accountable, regardless of their connections or power. This resolution serves not only to honor Kagezi’s legacy but also sends a strong message against organized crime in Uganda, reaffirming the rule of law.

Original Source: softpower.ug