The former most feared Police Officer Nixon Agasirwe has been formally charged with the murder of Senior Principal State Attorney Joan Kagezi, marking a major development in a case that has haunted Uganda for a decade.
Agasirwe appeared has today appeared before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Nakawa, where the murder charges was read out to him, but he was not allowed to enter a plea, as the court lacks jurisdiction to handle capital offenses such as murder.
The prosecution alleges that Agasirwe was involved in the assassination of Kagezi, who was shot dead on March 30th 2015, in Kiwatule near Kampala and at the time of her death, she was prosecuting several high-profile terrorism cases, including the 2010 Kampala bombings.
Agasirwe appeared in prison uniform and remained calm and silent throughout the brief court session and the Chief Magistrate His Worship Erias Kakooza informed the accused that the matter would be committed to the High Court at a later date and ordered that he be remanded to Luzira Upper Prison until July 8th 2025.
The courtroom was tense, with members of Kagezi’s family and legal fraternity present to witness the long-awaited first step in a case that had gone silent for years, but while Speaking outside the courthouse, a spokesperson for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said the charge marks a critical turning point in the pursuit of justice for Kagezi.
Agasirwe, once a feared Senior Officer in the now-defunct Special Operations Unit of the Uganda Police Force, has previously faced charges of human rights abuses, illegal detentions and involvement in covert operations.
His name has frequently surfaced in connection with extrajudicial activities during the tenure of former Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura.
Though the Director of Public Prosecutions office has not disclosed the full details of the evidence linking Agasirwe to the killing, sources familiar with the investigation suggest that new witness testimony and forensic analysis were instrumental in bringing the charge.
The case has drawn renewed public attention due to its high-profile nature and the symbolic role the late Kagezi held in Uganda’s justice system and known for her fearlessness in handling terrorism and organized crime cases, her murder sent shockwaves through the judiciary and international community.
If convicted, Agasirwe faces the maximum sentence of death under Ugandan law and his legal team has yet to issue a public statement regarding the charge and his case is expected to be transferred to the High Court Criminal Division, where a pretrial session will determine whether it proceeds to full trial later this year.
