A shocking revelation was made in the International Crimes Division of Uganda’s High Court this week, as a man convicted of murder claimed that a government-linked individual ordered the assassination of top state prosecutor Joan Kagezi.
Daniel Kisseka Kiwanuka, who recently pleaded guilty to his part in the 2015 murder, told the court that a man called “Nickson,” believed to be a government worker, was behind the deadly plot. He said Nickson was seen driving a vehicle with government number plates and was the one who gave the order to kill Kagezi.
Kisseka is now acting as a witness for the state in the ongoing case against three other men accused in the same murder: Kibuuka John, Nasur Abdallah Mugonole, and John Massajjage.
While speaking to the judges, Kisseka explained how the plan to kill Joan Kagezi was put in motion. He said it was his co-accused, Kibuuka, who told the group that the mission came from Nickson.
“We asked who had sent us for such a dangerous mission. Kibuuka told us the boss was someone called Nickson,” Kisseka told the court.
Kisseka said he never got the chance to speak directly with Nickson, but he saw him in a white car with government plates. This meeting happened in Kalerwe, a busy suburb in Kampala. Although the windows of the car were tinted, and Kisseka couldn’t clearly see Nickson’s face, he claims to have watched him talk to Kibuuka inside the car.
Even more disturbing was the payment arrangement. According to Kisseka, the group was promised a total of $200,000 (about UGX 750 million) to carry out the killing. However, they only received UGX 500,000 each during the planning stage—and the rest of the money was never paid.
Joan Kagezi, who was serving as the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, was gunned down on March 30, 2015, in Kiwatule, a Kampala suburb. She was sitting in her car, returning home from work, when she was shot. At the time, she was leading prosecutions in major terrorism cases, including those involved in the 2010 Kampala bombings that killed dozens during a World Cup screening.
Kisseka’s testimony has added a new layer to the already high-profile case. In the past, he had told the court that he didn’t know who ordered the hit. But now, under cross-examination, the name “Nickson” has come up, possibly linking the crime to someone with government connections.
The prosecution believes the killing was not an isolated act, but rather a well-planned operation carried out by multiple people. Kisseka’s confession may help bring the full truth to light, but it has also raised questions about possible involvement from people in powerful positions.
The trial is ongoing, and many in Uganda are watching closely. Joan Kagezi’s murder has remained unsolved for eight years, and the public continues to demand justice for a brave prosecutor who gave her life in the fight against crime and terrorism.
For now, the courtroom remains tense as judges listen to more witnesses and review new evidence. The country hopes that this time, the truth will finally come out.
