New details have emerged in the ongoing trial over the assassination of senior prosecutor Joan Kagezi Namazzi, with one of the suspects making claims about an alleged operation that involved gaining access to her family before her death.
During court proceedings at Uganda’s International Crimes Division of the High Court, suspect Nasur Abdallah Mugonole claimed that a man identified as Calvin Jordan allegedly became close to Kagezi’s family by presenting himself as someone interested in a relationship with her daughter.
According to Mugonole’s testimony, Jordan was able to gain the trust of the family and remained in contact with them for several years before Kagezi was killed.
Kagezi, who served as Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, was assassinated on March 30, 2015, after being shot near her home in Kiwatule, a Kampala suburb.
Her killing shocked the country because she was handling several sensitive cases, including major terrorism-related prosecutions, at the time of her death.
Mugonole told court that the relationship allegedly created an opportunity for Jordan to become familiar with the family’s activities and movements.
He claimed that before Kagezi’s assassination, her mobile phone was taken and later used as part of an alleged tracking operation.
According to the testimony, Mugonole alleged that Jordan took the phone and handed it to former Flying Squad commander Nixon Agasirwe.
He further claimed that the phone was later delivered to former Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura at his residence in Ntinda.
Mugonole alleged that the phone was then given to another person identified as Lieutenant Francis, who allegedly installed a tracking device with serial number 3250 before returning the phone to Kagezi several days later.
However, the allegations made by Mugonole have not been proven in court and remain part of his defence testimony.
The suspect told the court that the alleged tracking operation was intended to monitor Kagezi’s movements before the attack that ended her life.
Mugonole also claimed that Kagezi’s assassination was part of a wider operation involving several individuals, including some former security officials.
He denied directly participating in the shooting but told the court that he allegedly knew about the plan and collected information about people involved.
Mugonole claimed that police officer Hamisi Kakaire carried out the shooting and that the weapon used in the attack was allegedly provided by Agasirwe.
Agasirwe and Abdul Noor Ssemujju, also known as Minana, are among those facing charges connected to Kagezi’s murder.
The court also heard claims from Mugonole that former police chief Gen. Kale Kayihura played a role in the alleged operation, although these claims have not been established by the court.
He further mentioned several other individuals whom he alleged were connected to the events leading to Kagezi’s death.
Mugonole told court that Kagezi allegedly possessed documents that could have linked some individuals to illegal activities, and he claimed these documents created tension before her death.
He alleged that there was an attempt to obtain the documents from Kagezi, but the claims remain disputed and have not been proven.
The trial has attracted public attention because it involves the murder of one of Uganda’s most prominent prosecutors and continues to reveal competing accounts from witnesses and accused persons.
Earlier in the case, Daniel Kisekka Kiwanuka, another suspect, pleaded guilty, entered a plea agreement with prosecutors, and became a state witness.
Kisekka previously testified about events leading to the shooting, claiming that a group of individuals planned the attack and later carried it out in Kiwatule.
The court is expected to continue examining evidence from both the prosecution and defence as the trial progresses.
Judges hearing the matter will eventually determine the truth behind the different claims presented in court and whether the accused persons are responsible for Joan Kagezi’s assassination.
