6 , Wednesday, April 1, 2015 OBITUARY Kagezi was a star prosecutor

By Vision Reporters PUBLIC REACTS The last time an assault of this mag- TO KAGEZI MURDER nitude was visited on the judiciary was in September 1972 when the Ronald Kakungulu: Chief Justice, Benedicto Kiwanuka, Rest in peace Kagezi. Not long was hauled out of his chambers at ago, I worked with you and the High Court to his murder. His others on the draft of Rules of remains have never been found. Procedure and Evidence of the The next was Monday evening’s International Crimes Division assassination of Assistant Director of of the High Court. Little did I Public Prosecutions, Joan Kagezi. know that you would not live Although the times and players are to witness the passing of the different, they had the same aim – to said rules which were intend- muzzle the courts, so that they can ed to smoothen your work. have the leeway to do whatever they please with a cowed populace. Dorothy Kwagala-Igaga: Kiwanuka’s case, it was Idi Amin’s Kagezi was such a lovely dictatorial regime and in Kagezi’s person and one of the best case, it is suspected to be terrorists prosecutors. It’s sad that trying to foil a judicial process. she was gunned down for Otherwise, why would anyone being very good at her job. want to kill a lawyer like Kagezi? Her colleagues describe her as one on the kindest, most humble and brilliant Michael Chibita (in tie), the Director prosecutors. of Public Prosecutions at the scene Her countenance in court would where Kagezi was killed yesterday. disarm even some of the naughtiest Photo by Roderick Ahimbazwe lawyers on the opposite side. Kagezi would argue her cases with such GRAPHIC BY TIMOTHY KATURAMU composure that the lawyers defending GRAPHIC BY BRIAN SSEKAMATTE 1 some of the suspects would try all d a NAJEERA o tricks to make her lose her cool in R

Who was o vain. HOW IT HAPPENED g o Sometimes when she sensed the Joan Kagezi? b M

lawyers were being too unfair to her

witnesses, she would calmly protest

July 14, 1967 - March 30, 2015 Three of her CIID boss Grace Akullo rushed her to

to court to intervene and as soon

children were in the Akullo happened to Mulago Hospital where

as the court session was done, she

MONDAY car at the time of be driving behind she was pronounced

would smile at the other lawyers and

7:30PM the incident Kagezi dead at 8:45pm 1973-1980 Nsuube Primary School

move out of the courtroom to prepare

Prosecutor Kagezi was on

further for her case.

1981-1987 Mt. St. Mary’s Namagunga her way home when she

In a number of diffi cult cases, she

was shot after she

successfully secured convictions.

1987-1990 stopped to buy fruits at

Some of the cases that she handled s ern Bypas (Bachelor in Law - LLB) North NAALYA

a stall in Kiwatule

included those of MP Akbar Godi and

EYEWITNESS

Tom Nkurungira murder. Both were June 1992 Diploma in Legal Practice ACCOUNTS The rider was convicted for murder. KIWATULE from LDC Shooters identified a muscular

The other cases included that

as two men on a man in a hood; CRIME SCENE of two Nigerians, who kidnapped August 12, 1992 Appointed Land officer

motorcyle the shooter,

Australians and demanded a sh20b under the Ministry of Lands and Housing Police quickly

who was at

ransom for them. The two are awaiting sealed off road at

the back, was May 1994 Appointed State Attorney sentencing after they pleaded guilty. crime scene Two catridges were

a light-skinned

Another notable case she handled recovered by Police

February 11, 2002 Promoted to man was Dr. Aggrey Kiyingi’s trial over the Principal State Attorney R o ad murder of his wife, Robinah Kayaga a t u le KISAASI K iw Kiyingi, who was also gunne-d August 16, 2007 Promoted to N tin down by hitmen in 2005. Kiyingi d Senior Principal State Attorney a- was acquitted in the High Court. The K is ASSASSINS a state appealed and the case awaits as January 2015 Named Assistant Director i Assailants R judgment in the Court of Appeal. o of Public Prosecutions in the Department ad believed to be ad Kagezi has also been handling former of International Crimes o They were mercenaries R Kony rebel Thomas Kwoyelo’s trial for a riding on ir March 2015 Pursuing a master's K war crimes. a bodaboda in Business Administration (MBA) ld Kagezi was also part of a team O at ESAMI/MSM motorcycle and had that was tasked with formulating trailed her sentencing guidelines to ensure that She had also applied and interviewed for there is uniformity in sentences for the position of a High Court judge Murderers linked to N t ADF and al-Shabaab i similar offences, thanks to her and the NTINDA n d other members of the team which was a She is survived by four children. R tasked by then Chief Justice Benjamin Joan Kagezi's husband died in 2006 d Odoki and headed by Principal Judge Yorokamu Bamwine. The courts have started giving almost uniform step up security for judges and judicial investigate and get to the root of will be remembered as a brave and bring to justice the perpetrators of this penalties and considering societal offi cers. “We have always known that it. Security services and the Police tireless promoter of justice, dedicated heinous crime,” the statement said. impact of the crime. judicial offi cers are obvious targets should increase security in case this to ensuring peace and stability in her Kagezi, who was widowed in 2006, Kagezi was also instrumental in because of the work they do.” was a target on judicial offi cers,” he country,” said a statement issued by is survived by four children. Two of promoting plea bargaining. A plea According to him, there has been observed. the US embassy. the children are expected to graduate bargain or a plea deal is an agreement provision of security for judges, but The murder of Kagezi, ’s The US reiterated its support for from university this year. in a criminal case between the now this calls for extra measures leading prosecutor for international the Ugandan government’s efforts According to the tentative funeral prosecutor and defendant where the “which I cannot discuss now. Her crimes, also saddened the US to combat international terrorism, in programme released yesterday, there defendant agrees to plead guilty to a contribution was immense; we shall embassy diplomats. The American which Kagezi played a leading role. will be a thanksgiving service at the particular charge in return for some certainly miss her.” government is leading the fi ght “We deplore this senseless act of deceased’s residence in Kiwatule, a concession from the prosecutor. The Chief Justice, Bart Katureebe, against international terrorism. “On violence and cowardice and join suburb today at 5:00pm. According to sources, Kagezi was described her as a hardworking, behalf of the US government, the Ugandans in mourning the loss of this Another service will be held on tipped to become a judge. intelligent and diligent offi cer. US Mission in Uganda extends our heroine in the forefront of the fi ght Thursday at St Luke’s Church in Kagezi’s murder has stunned the “It is sad that we should have deepest condolences to the children, against crime and terrorism. We stand Ntinda, Kampala at 10:00am before judiciary. Justice Bamwine says this is such an experience. Whatever the family and friends of Senior Principal in solidarity with Ugandans and the burial at Bukasa - Buloba on Mityana a wake-up call for the Government to reason, we leave it to the Police to State Attorney Joan Kagezi. She Ugandan government as they seek to Road at 4:00pm.