The Criminal Division of the High Court in Kampala has set March 18, 2026 to deliver its ruling on a bail application filed by former Special Investigations Unit commandant Nickson Agasirwe Karuhanga, who is facing charges in connection with the murder of senior prosecutor Joan Namazzi Kagezi.
Presiding judge Isaac Muwata fixed the date after confirming that both the defence and prosecution had filed their written submissions on the court record through the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS), the judiciary’s online case-filing platform.
Although Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka was absent from court and had requested more time due to commitments in another matter, the judge ruled that the request was unnecessary since all relevant submissions had already been uploaded to the system.
Agasirwe’s arrest followed testimony from Daniel Kiwanuka Kisekka, a former Uganda People’s Defence Forces deserter who appeared before the International Crimes Division of the High Court.
Kisekka testified that a man he identified only as “Nick” allegedly Agasirwe ordered the assassination of Kagezi.
According to sources close to the investigation, Agasirwe was initially held at the Flying Squad Unit headquarters in Kireka while assisting authorities with ongoing investigations.
At the time of Kagezi’s killing in 2015, Agasirwe served as commander of Special Police Operations under former Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura.
Kisekka’s testimony was presented as part of a plea bargain agreement with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Under the arrangement, he pleaded guilty to murder in exchange for a reduced sentence, with terrorism charges dropped.
Appearing before a panel of justices—Michael Elubu, Stephen Mubiru, Winfred Nabisinde, and Celia Nagawa—Kisekka confessed that the group received $20,000 from an unnamed high-profile individual who was allegedly angered by Kagezi’s role in prosecuting sensitive, religion-related criminal cases.
He was sentenced to 35 years in prison, which was later reduced to 34 years after the court credited him for time already spent on remand.
Kagezi, then a Senior Principal State Attorney, was assassinated on March 30, 2015 in Kiwatule.
She had stopped at a roadside stall to buy vegetables while driving home to Najjera, accompanied by three of her four children.
According to investigators, as she returned to her car, a man approached the driver’s window pretending to ask for directions. When she rolled down the window, he shot her twice in the neck at close range before fleeing on a waiting motorcycle.
Kagezi was rushed to Mulago National Referral Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Her killing sent shockwaves across Uganda and the international community, largely because of her role in prosecuting high-profile terrorism and war crimes cases.
The arrest and remand of Agasirwe mark a significant development in a case that has remained unresolved for more than a decade.
While authorities have not officially confirmed whether further arrests are expected, sources close to the investigation say additional suspects could be implicated as the case continues to unfold.
The High Court’s decision on Agasirwe’s bail application on March 18 is expected to be closely watched as the long-running investigation into Kagezi’s assassination progresses.
