HE Yoweri Museveni has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms Jane Frances Abodo, to start the search for the killers of the murdered former Principal State Attorney Joan Namazzi Kagezi.
President Yoweri Museveni has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Ms Jane Frances Abodo to commence the search for the killers of the former Principal State Attorney Joan Namazzi Kagezi who was murdered seven years ago.
Museveni made the remarks while attending the fifth Memorial Lecture of the former State Attorney on Tuesday. He said the killers are abroad but directed the State to devise means on how they can be returned into the country and charged.
‘’I know the story, these killers were identified, they were seen clearly. We should go after them abroad where they are hiding. So, I was asking my girl there in CID, Grace Akullo what happened, ‘…ooh, we are still what what…transboundary;’ what Susan (Justice Susan Okalany) was saying,’’ Museveni directed that if possible they can be charged from the country where they are hiding.
‘’If it is transboundary, if they say that we can’t bring back that person here because we are killers (still having death penalty on law books), okay, you try him there, is that allowed? Why can’t this person be tried there and be sentenced to prison for life,’’ he directed.
Kagezi, the lead prosecutor in the trial of 15 men accused of a deadly twin bomb attack by Al-Shabaab was intercepted as she drove home and shot dead in March 2015 in Kiwatule.
Seven years down the road, no formidable suspects have been charged and the earlier seven who had been detained on the same matter were released because there was no evidence likening them to the death of the former Attorney General.
Citing this, Museveni challenged DPP Abodo to explain why they have remained silent and not taken up any other measures to see that the killers are charged since they are already informed about their whereabouts.
“Isn’t crime trans-national also? Isn’t accountability transnational? Abodo, come and help me here…why can’t we say, if you don’t want to bring this person here (Uganda) try him there, tell me what the problem is,” Museveni challenged.
In response, Justice Abodo said much as the state has the powers to undertake the said actions, it all depends on what agreements they have signed with the specific countries involved.
“…Sometimes because we have a death penalty in our laws… We can do that but it depends on what relationship or treaties we have signed with particular countries,’’ Abbo responded partly.
Meanwhile, before her death, Kagezi was in charge of the International Crime Division in the office of the DPP, handling crimes such as terrorism, war crimes, and trafficking in persons. She was also working with the police in the prosecution of those accused of killings, robberies, and terrorism in the Busoga region and Kampala.
