In a dramatic turn of events, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nixon Agasirwe has today been formally charged with the murder of Senior State Prosecutor Joan Kagezi, nearly a decade after her brutal assassination shook Uganda to its core.
Agasirwe, a once-powerful commander of the now-disbanded Special Operations Unit, was arrested weeks back from a hideout in Kira Municipality. He had been held in Wakiso district awaiting interrogation and has now appeared before the Chief Magistrate’s Court, which formally read him the murder charge. However, he was not allowed to take a plea, as murder cases are only handled by the High Court. He has since been remanded to Luzira Upper Prison until July 8, 2025.
The charge follows a bombshell confession delivered in court just days ago by Daniel Kiwanuka Kisekka, a 43-year-old UPDF deserter, who admitted to taking part in the 2015 killing. During his plea bargain with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Kisekka revealed that a man he only knew as “Nixon” had sponsored the murder. When pressed for further details by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Lino Anguzu, Kisekka said, “I only know Nixon.”
That confession immediately reignited investigations that had gone cold for years, leading to Agasirwe’s arrest and now, his formal charge. Kisekka was sentenced to 35 years in prison after entering a plea deal in which terrorism charges were dropped in exchange for cooperation.
Joan Kagezi, a fearless prosecutor and Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions at the time, was gunned down on March 30, 2015, in Kiwatule, a Kampala suburb, as she drove home with her children. She had briefly stopped at a roadside fruit stall when two men on a motorcycle opened fire on her car, killing her instantly with gunshots to the neck and shoulder.
Her murder was seen by many as an attempt to derail major terrorism trials, including the case she was leading against suspects in the 2010 Kampala bombings, which killed more than 90 people. The case went cold despite early warnings and intelligence suggesting possible involvement of rogue security operatives.
Kisekka also testified that his co-accused, John Kibuuka a.k.a. Musa, told him that “Nixon” had hired them to kill Kagezi. Kibuuka, along with Nasur Abdallah Mugonole and John Masajjage, has denied involvement. The trio is currently facing terrorism and murder charges.
The investigation has long been marred by disturbing irregularities. Crucial surveillance footage from the hotels where Kagezi had her final meetings vanished mysteriously, reportedly taken by individuals impersonating investigators. In 2017, New Vision reported that unassigned operatives had removed the footage before police arrived. In 2018, it was revealed that two Flying Squad officers fled the country after being linked to the murder.
Agasirwe’s career has always been controversial. While once praised for leading the Special Operations Unit in fighting violent crime, his legacy is deeply stained by accusations of torture, illegal detentions, and political abuse of power. He was first arrested in 2017 over separate charges of unlawful possession of military weapons and involvement in kidnappings, spending four years on remand before his release in 2022.
Today’s charge is being seen as a critical moment in Uganda’s pursuit of justice. For years, Joan Kagezi’s murder symbolized impunity, the dangers facing judicial officers, and the shadows within the very institutions meant to protect the law.
As July 8 approaches, when the case returns to court, the eyes of the nation will remain fixed on Luzira. After nearly ten years, there is new hope that the truth about who killed Joan Kagezi—and why—may finally come to light.
