Eleven years after the cold-blooded assassination of senior state prosecutor Joan Kagezi shocked Uganda, dramatic testimony in the ongoing High Court trial has reignited one of the country’s darkest murder mysteries.
In explosive evidence before court some time back, one of the accused, Abdul Noor Ssemujju, also known as Minana, reportedly claimed that former Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura and another individual he identified as Kagame instructed him to participate in the assassination of the senior prosecutor.
The testimony, which is now part of ongoing judicial proceedings, has sent shockwaves through political and security circles, with many waiting to see whether prosecutors present independent evidence to support or contradict the allegations.
It is important to note that these are allegations made by an accused person in court. The individuals named have not been convicted or found liable in relation to Joan Kagezi’s murder, and the court has not reached any findings on the claims.
Court Hears Stunning Confession
According to the testimony attributed to Abdul Noor Ssemujju, he allegedly told court that the assassination was not an ordinary criminal act but a carefully planned operation.
Without hesitation, the suspect reportedly named former Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura and another individual identified as Kagame as the people who allegedly ordered the killing.
The accused’s statement represents one version of events that the prosecution and defence are expected to examine through cross-examination and additional evidence as the trial continues.
Legal experts say testimony from an accused person must be weighed alongside corroborating evidence before any conclusions can be drawn.
The Missing Piece: The Alleged Motive
For more than a decade, one question has haunted investigators and the public alike:
Why was Joan Kagezi killed?
Another suspect in the case, Nasur Abdallah Mugonole, reportedly attempted to answer that question during proceedings.
According to testimony attributed to Mugonole, Kagezi allegedly possessed sensitive documents that implicated senior security officials in investigations relating to the murders of Muslim clerics and alleged illegal arms dealings.
Mugonole further alleged that Kagezi was offered Shs1 billion to abandon the matter but refused.These allegations have not been proven in court, and those named have not publicly been found responsible for the claims.
However, the testimony has revived public interest in the motive behind one of Uganda’s most controversial assassinations.
Claims of Sophisticated Surveillance
The court also heard allegations that Joan Kagezi was allegedly placed under surveillance before her assassination.
According to testimony cited during proceedings, a young man allegedly befriended Kagezi’s daughter, pretending to have a romantic interest in her.The witness claimed the daughter’s phone was allegedly taken away for several days, spyware installed, and later returned.
If proven, prosecutors could argue that such surveillance enabled the killers to monitor Kagezi’s movements before she was ambushed and shot dead in Kiwatule as she drove home with her children.
The allegations remain contested and are yet to be tested through the full trial process.
A Murder That Shook Uganda
Joan Kagezi was serving as Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions when she was gunned down on March 30, 2015.
She had handled several high-profile terrorism and organized crime prosecutions, including cases involving suspects accused of participating in the 2010 Kampala bombings.Her assassination shocked the country and raised concerns about the safety of prosecutors handling sensitive criminal cases.
For years, investigators struggled to identify those responsible, while speculation about the motive continued.
Kayihura’s Era Under Fresh Scrutiny
The testimony has once again placed the spotlight on the period when Gen. Kale Kayihura headed the Uganda Police Force.
Critics have long questioned investigations into several high-profile assassinations that occurred during his tenure.Among those frequently mentioned are the murders of former Police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi, former Buyende District Police Commander Muhammad Kirumira, several Muslim clerics and other prominent figures.
No court has linked Kayihura to those killings.
However, the latest allegations have prompted renewed public debate over whether some investigations during that period should be revisited if credible new evidence emerges.
Questions About Earlier Investigations
Human rights organisations previously documented allegations of torture against suspects arrested during investigations into terrorism, the killings of Muslim clerics and other major crimes.
Several suspects later told court they had been tortured or coerced into making confessions.Authorities have previously denied wrongdoing and maintained that investigations were conducted within the law.
The new testimony has nevertheless reignited debate over whether innocent people may have been implicated while the actual perpetrators remained unidentified.Those issues remain matters of public discussion and legal scrutiny rather than established judicial findings.
What About Jeje Odongo?
The user-supplied material also mentions Gen. Jeje Odongo, who served as Internal Affairs Minister during part of the period surrounding the investigation.
However, based on the information provided, no direct factual basis or court testimony is set out explaining why he would have wanted Joan Kagezi killed.As matters stand, it would be inaccurate to state that Gen. Odongo ordered, planned or participated in the murder without evidence presented in court or other verified sources.
Any suggestion of his involvement remains unproven unless and until supported by admissible evidence.
Kagame Allegation Faces Court Test
The testimony also names an individual identified as Kagame.Because this allegation concerns an identifiable person and is extremely serious, it remains only an allegation made by an accused person during ongoing proceedings.
The High Court will determine what weight, if any, should be attached to the testimony after considering all available evidence.No finding has been made by the court establishing responsibility on the part of the person named.
Could More Cold Cases Be Reopened?
Lawyers following the proceedings say that if the court ultimately finds the testimony credible and it is supported by independent evidence, investigators may face pressure to revisit other unresolved assassinations from the same period.
That does not mean earlier investigations were necessarily flawed, but any credible new evidence could legally justify further inquiries.Whether such investigations occur will depend on decisions by the relevant investigative authorities.
Nation Watches Historic Trial
The Joan Kagezi murder trial has become one of Uganda’s most closely watched criminal proceedings.Each hearing continues to generate fresh debate as witnesses present competing accounts of what happened more than a decade ago.
For Kagezi’s family, colleagues and the public, the central hope remains that the court will establish the truth through evidence tested in accordance with the law.The proceedings are ongoing, and the accused persons, as well as those named in testimony but not charged, remain entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until a court determines otherwise.
As the trial continues, all eyes will remain on the High Court to determine whether the sensational allegations are supported by credible evidence—or whether they collapse under cross-examination. The answers may finally explain not only who pulled the trigger, but also whether anyone else bears criminal responsibility for one of Uganda’s most notorious assassinations.
Author Profile
- Charles Gazza Kodili is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. He’s currently the Chief Editor at the Investigator.
Charles can also be reached via; Tel: +256 774 108978
Email: [email protected]
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J.J. Odong is a different person from Gen Jeje Odongo. Please get your facts right.