President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni commended the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for leading in honoring the late State Prosecutor, Joan Kagezi.
“When you organize these annual lectures in memory of Joan, you create a culture of gratitude for those who serve and sacrifice. It’s not good for the country to forget someone after they’ve passed away. So, it’s excellent that you organize these annual lectures,” he said.
The President made these remarks today during the 7th Joan Kagezi Memorial Lecture at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
The lecture serves as a platform to honor the life and work of the late Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Kagezi, who was fatally shot in her vehicle in the presence of her children on the evening of March 30, 2015, in Kiwatule, a suburb of Kampala.
According to President Museveni, before her death, Kagezi allegedly received threats from terrorists who warned her that if she continued prosecuting them rigorously, they would harm her.
“That’s what I was told, and she refused to compromise… Corrupt individuals aim to control both the investigative and adjudicative aspects of the state. They aim to compromise the CID, the DPP, and the judiciary, thereby securing impunity, as seen in some South American countries. The terrorists were attempting the same here,” the President asserted.
He further called for an audit of the group handling the 2010 bombing case, suspecting compromise within.
“Some may have been influenced, but Joan refused. Unfortunately, we were unaware, which led to her demise. The killers miscalculated, similar to events in Uganda in the 1960s when warnings were ignored, resulting in unnecessary turmoil. The killers of Kagezi thought they were clever; however, we apprehended them, and many of those who dispatched them from Congo are deceased,” the President explained.
“Joan Kagezi’s memory endures because we remember her for her commitment to truth. Some of her killers have met their end in Congo. Those who remain armed will be neutralized, even if they are mere suspects. Surrendering offers temporary suspect status,” he added.
President Museveni stressed the importance of supporting families of fallen heroes to uphold patriotism.
“Fearing that one’s family will be forgotten upon their demise may foster cowardice. We must care for the families of those who die in pursuit of justice,” he emphasized.
He also commended the late Kagezi’s children for their academic achievements with government support.
“We established schools for children of soldiers and veterans, ensuring their education. Neglecting such families undermines patriotism. We supported Kagezi’s children; she died as a freedom fighter,” he affirmed.
President Museveni assured Ugandans of the government’s custody of Kagezi’s killers, while urging security agencies to refrain from coercive interrogation tactics, which may yield false confessions.
He also assured state prosecutors of ongoing welfare improvements, indicating a promising future for government lawyers.
Rt. Hon. Anita Among, the Speaker of Parliament, praised Kagezi’s dedication and sacrifice, emphasizing the importance of justice.
Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo acknowledged the suspects’ arrest in Kagezi’s murder, cautioning against presumptions of guilt before due process.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Jane Frances Abodo, lauded Kagezi’s dedication to justice and her role in establishing the International Crimes Division. She expressed gratitude for government support and cooperation in the investigation.
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