Kampala, Uganda – A dark chapter in Uganda’s justice system reopened today with a chilling confession that sent shockwaves through the legal and security fraternity. Kisekka Daniel, a former UPDF officer stood before court and pleaded guilty to the 2015 cold-blooded murder of senior prosecutor Joan Kagezi a case that has haunted the nation for nearly a decade.
The killing was a paid hit ordered by a high-profile individual for $20,000.
“We were paid to silence her,” Kisekka revealed in a dramatic court session, according to prosecution reports. “Because of her involvement in sensitive Muslim-related cases.”
Joan Kagezi, a fearless and highly respected prosecutor at the time of her assassination, was handling some of Uganda’s most sensitive terrorism and murder cases many of which implicated radical elements tied to Muslim extremist networks.
On March 30, 2015, she was gunned down in cold blood while buying fruits in Kiwatule, Kampala her children sitting in the car, watching helplessly.
The crime stunned the nation and for years, the masterminds behind it remained hidden in the shadows.
Kisekka Daniel wasn’t always a fugitive. Once a disciplined UPDF officer stationed in Gulu, he later deserted the force after stealing two AK-47 rifles. His descent into the criminal underworld was swift and terrifying.
After fleeing the barracks, he allegedly joined forces with three other men including Kibuuka John, Nasur Abdallah Mugonole, and Masajjage forming an armed robbery syndicate that roamed the country with impunity.
Their deadliest assignment, however, wasn’t a bank or shop. It was Joan Kagezi, a public servant whose only crime was seeking justice for victims.
As Kisekka detailed his group’s operations and the sinister deal to eliminate Kagezi, the court moved swiftly to bar the media from capturing any images of the accused. Security inside the courtroom was tight and journalists were warned against attempts to film or photograph the proceedings.
Perhaps the most haunting part of today’s hearing was the identity or lack of the person who ordered the hit.
Kisekka claimed the group was paid $20,000 by a high-profile individual who was angered by Kagezi’s role in cases involving Muslim suspects.
This individual, he said, remains unnamed and investigations are ongoing to expose the full conspiracy.
Kagezi’s murder didn’t just rob Uganda of a brilliant legal mind. It sent a chilling message to prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officials: no one is truly safe when justice challenges power.
Today’s revelations reignite public outrage, reopen old wounds and cast a harsh light on how far criminal networks with military connections are willing to go to protect their interests.
Kisekka’s guilty plea is expected to strengthen the prosecution’s hand as it moves to net the remaining suspects and financiers. But the road to justice remains steep.
Also Read: Opposition Holds Crucial Caucus Over the Ongoing UPDF Amendment Bill
