Joan Kagezi (senior prosecutor) was gunned down on March 30, 2015 in her car when she made a stopover to buy some groceries before proceeding to her home in Kiwatule, Nakawa division, Kampala. UGpepper has leant and dived into the sour details of her gruesome murder.

The Plot

Investigators into the killing of Joan Kagezi reveal that before John Masajjage and Ezra Kibuuka got arrested they had planned the murder way back in April 2014. From then they started trailing Kagezi to knowing all her daily schedules. They held lunch time meetings and late night meetings at a rented residence belonging to one of the suspects at Kanyanya, Kawempe division in Kampala; where they could smoke before setting off.    

This residence was a fenced one and according to a security source some suspects are said to have visited on motorcycles and a vehicle that could park outside. The killers monitored Kagezi to knowing who she last met before proceeding home. Before the mission, the source also reveals that the killers held a brief meeting and they used motorcycles via the northern bypass route at around 5:00pm. They reached the target area where Kagezi used to buy her groceries in time and waited at a nearby supermarket. Their guns were fully loaded. When Kagezi appeared, the shooter reportedly showed up to the car’s driver’s door and shoots were heard that saw Kagezi dead.  

How Masajjage, Kibuuka Changed Names  

Masajjage who resided in Nabweru division, Wakiso district was on some days according to area resident picked from his home in a white Toyota premio to unknown destinations where officials reveal could be where they staged deals for the murder.

When we visited Nabweru the two never lived away from each other. They all had a look out on one another in case of anything unsecure to them as neibours say they could regularly check on themselves especially in the nights. And Kibuuka could refer to Masajjage as Ssalo.

Neibours told us that Ezra John Kibuuka was commonly known to them as Musa Nsubuga and John Masajjage, 50, as Ssalongo John, with his counterparts titling him as Chongo. Masajjage was a darling to his kids and others in the community and he so much loved his wife who once ran a fruits stall in Kalerwe market. It is said that she also used to contribute to home necessities and could come back home with a pick of a fruit for hubby Masajjage.

Amount Paid and Who Paid

A source tells us that a criminal syndicate that wanted Kagezi dead agreed to pay killers a sum amounting to Shs740 million ($200, 000) and half of the money was paid as deposit for the job. It is said according to a source that this criminal syndicate paid the first half of the money in dollars.

How Masajjage Escaped Arrest  

On April 8, 2015, Gen. Kayihura ordered for the arrest of both Kibuuka and Masajjage after investigations showed they were linked and allegedly prime suspects into the murder of Kagezi. That night was the night Masajjage first escaped arrest; and this came shortly after police raided Kibuuka’s ‘muzigo’ (rental) and fired bullets that alerted Masajjage who later flee into thin air. He was later arrested and detained.   

Why trial delayed

On the delay of the trial, senior state attorney Irene Nakimbugwe, the deputy spokesperson of the office of the DPP said that they never wanted to take any chances;

“We wanted to have thorough investigations before court. We now feel that we have sufficient evidence to prosecute this case,” Nakibugwe noted.

The Charges

Masajjage, Kibuuka and the other four Daniel Kisekka, 43, Nasur Abdallah Mugonole, 39, were charged with terrorism, contrary to section 7 (1)(a) and 2 (b) of the Anti-terrorism Act, 2002 and murder contrary to sections 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act. They appeared before Nakawa Court Chief Magistrate Elias Kakooza who read out their charges.

Joan Kagezi, born in Lutete Mityana is survived by four children; she was born on July 14, 1967.

Author: UG pepper

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