Murdered Ex-DPP’s Case Remains Unsolved, Raising Competence Questions

The unresolved murder of former Ugandan Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Kagezi has led Members of Parliament to question the competence of the DPP’s office.

Kagezi was assassinated by unknown gunmen on March 30, 2015, in Kampala’s Kiwatule suburb.

Deputy DPP John Baptist Asiimwe told parliament’s Committee on Human Rights on July 5, 2023, that investigations began immediately but all suspects were released due to lack of evidence.

A new team of investigators was formed in November 2022, Asiimwe said. “Most investigative work is done. Identifying perpetrators is all that’s left. Extradition efforts are underway for a key suspect linked to the crime who was previously indicted for murder, released on bail, and fled to Europe.”

Committee Chair Fox Odoi Oywelowo expressed disappointment with the slow progress. “We gave you six months to catch these murderers. We won’t accept this. We need accountability. If we can’t solve one murder, we’ll have more. They will escalate,” he said.

Hon. Geoffrey Okello (Democratic Party, Nwoya East) urged a public appeal and reward to identify suspects. “These murders aren’t done by one person. A public appeal could catch the criminals,” he said.

Sironko Woman MP Hon. Florence Nambozo said the DPP’s failure to solve high-profile murders has eroded public confidence. “We can’t believe you still have no leads. You handle hard-core criminals with kid gloves,” she said.

Hon. Baatom Ben Koryang (NRM, Dodoth East) said the DPP’s response on high-profile murders is inadequate. “It looks like when there’s a high-profile murder, you rush to make arrests just to show you’re working,” he said.

On July 29, 2022, parliament instructed the DPP to conduct a prosecution-led investigation into high-profile murders. Nearly eight years on, Kagezi’s killers remain at large, raising questions about Uganda’s top prosecution body.