One of the four men accused in the 2015 assassination of former Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Joan Namazzi Kagezi, has pleaded guilty to the murder.
Daniel Kisseka Kiwanuka stunned the court today, Monday, when he admitted to taking part in the high-profile killing, marking the first conviction in the decade-old case that shook Uganda’s justice system.
Appearing before the International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala, Kisseka pleaded guilty to the charge of murder.
Prosecutors, after reading out the facts of the case, asked the court to sentence him to 35 years in prison, despite the offense carrying a maximum penalty of death.
“The accused played a direct and deliberate role in the killing of a public official who was deeply involved in prosecuting terrorism and organized crime. A strong message must be sent,” state attorneys argued.
The court has now reserved judgment on the sentence, which is expected to be delivered later today.
Joan Kagezi was gunned down in Kiwatule on March 30, 2015, as she drove home with her children.
She was in charge of prosecuting terror suspects at the time of her assassination.
Her murder sparked national outrage and an international outcry over the safety of prosecutors and justice officials.
The trial of the remaining three co-accused is ongoing.