Live: Requiem Mass for slain prosecutor, Kagezi

The body of slain senior principal state attorney, Joan Kagezi has arrived at St Luke Church Ntinda, Kampala for requiem mass.
The mood is sombre and security has been tightened at the Church premises.
Ms Kagezi, who was gunned down in Kiwatule, a Kampala suburb on Monday night as she drove home with her children, will be laid to rest at Bukasa in Buloba on Mityana Road at 4pm today.
Reports from the church indicate that the family is laying wreaths on the casket.

10:49am: Judiciary represented, DpP, judges, lawyers, ministers and police all present. The DPP of Kenya is also represented and a team from the US embassy also present.

10:50am. The master of ceremonies are ; Mr Kimmy Kiberu, an in law to Kagezi family and the Assistant DPP, meaning requiem mass is being led by family and DPP.

10.55am: Real service starts with a hymn abide by me, meanwhile church is overflowing and soon there will be no space. Some mourners are wearing black tshirts branded with Kagezi RIP as is the new trend.

11:00am: Mourners now reciting the Psalms 23: The lord is my shepherd I shall not want, He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me...........

At this time we get interrupted by the news that veteran news anchor Mr Bbaale Francis has passed on

11:04am: The deceased's daughter Ms Carol Kagezi takes the first reading. Her brother takes the second reading, key in words for the reading: I have finished my race, I have kept my promise. That is the 2Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful)

11:14am: Now move into speeches, starting with Cornelius Sabiiti, the Executive Director PPDA. He starts: On behalf of PPDA, on behalf of friends, I stand here also for Joan's friends, we are very many. Ms Sabiiti studied with Joan Kagezi at Mt St Mary's Namagunga from S.1, to law school and they all stayed in Mary Stuart hall at Makerere University.

Ms Sabiiti continues: Kagezi travelled a lot and was busy all time but had time for her friends, She was very generous and playful.

11:18am: Carol and Jane Francis (works with UN) on behalf of siblings take to pulpit: "Kagezi was quiet and humble, hard working and respectful," they say.

11:21am: Ms Rose Kibuuka speaking on behalf of sisters in-law: While at campus, she (Kagezi) was campaigning to be chairlady of box (Mary Stuart). Our brother was campaigning to be chairperson Mitchell hall, in that crisscross, he fell for her. Meanwhile our sister Winnie was her campaign manager, Our brother asked Winnie to put in word for him but Joan was playing ping pong. Winnie said you have a guy dying for you, say yes. She finally said Yes..ah..they married.

11:27am: Ms Rose Kibuka continues: She loved flowers and friends.

11:28am Brother In-law Mr Robert Kanungu speaking: "Joan was humble and resilient, she said No and it would still be NO. If she said yes, then she would do anything. She had an epitaph- Live everyday, love everyday and love beyond words. He ends speech.

11:31: Sarah Birungi (Ms) speaking on behalf of Kagezi family: Joan was the family legal advisor. I would tell her father that i do not like her handling such cases and when i got a call on Monday, I said, i have always feared this.

11:38am: Parents of Joan kagezi take to the podium to speak: Mzee Sserwada is so grieved , says he can not speak but manages a few words: Says he was leaving school on Monday then saw commotion ahead, he though Joan had knocked a child only for him to see kids running towards him, telling him she had been killed and the rest is history.

11:43am: Joan Kagezi's children come to speak- Oh dear and the church goes sombre again, a few start in uncontrollable tears. Phillip leads the children: "We agree with what has been said. I had a best friend and principled. She wanted to see everybody happy. She would drop us at school. I asked her how managed to do so much at once- She said she tries.

11:47am: Daughter says: Mummy rest....we shall be fine

11:48am: Second daughter sobs....................but continues; Mama know i love you (Church goes sombre again, this time we are also victim). But she continues still sobbing: " Thanks for coming here and remembering mummy"

11:49am: Kagezi's last born inaudible but says: I miss mummy

11:54: Son speaking: After the 2010 bombings, she would update us on investigations. The interesting moment is when FBI came, I said this will be my project. It is sad that she had to leave this way.

12:05pm: Musical interlude...none other than the soothing song: It is well with my soul:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll;Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.

We skipped the reading of condolence messages, but a little bit about them: DPP, Speaker Kadaga, IGG, Principle Judge, ICRC, IGAD security sector ( where Kagezi was consultant), Germany embassy, Kabojja Junior school, St Catherine hospital, Galaxy international school, DG ISO, DPP, IGP, Chief Justice, to mention but a few.

12:23pm: Mr Vincent Wagona speaks on behalf of colleagues at work, says they are simply devastated. Uganda law Society president speaks, says she was exceptional

12:33pm: IGP Kale Kayihura speaking: We have put a financial reward for anyone who can give credible information to arrest perpetrators. We are not sleeping and we shall not sleep until those who have taken the life of Joan are brought to book and that will be very soon.

I am not competent to say this but i think her soul has been received in heaven because where else would it go?

12:49pm: Deputy DPP of Kenya speaking, asks governments of EAC to take firm stand on terrorism

12:52pm: DPP Mike Chibita speaking: All of us will die one day. When we went to legal school, we never knew out profession was dangerous. Never did we know we will be targets. She is the first prosecutor to be killed after death of V Kiwanuka. prosecution of criminal cases is not a picnic. In case anyone was in doubt, the evidence is lying before us. But I would like to assure you that we shall do our job without fear or favour.

The DPP then asks that the road where Kagezi was killed be named Joan Kagezi road.

13:10pm: Mr Kahinda Otafire speaks: Assassins are cowards, I can assure these ones that we shall go after them. We shall look for them and if we don't get them in this world, we shall get them in the next because God will be our witness. No matter where they are and how long it takes, we shall get them. (Here or next world)

13:22pm: Chief Justice speaks: A prosecutor is not a persecutor. I am sure the people who killed Joan, when they are caught- Am sure they will be. They will wish they have a prosecutor like Joan who will present evidence without distortion.

13:31pm: The IGP made reference to man of all seasons, when Thomas Moore was asked to bend the law for the King's bidding. he was told: "Cut all that forest of law for the sake of the devil." He replied: "When will you hide when the Devil turns against you." .....Church applause.

13:35pm: VP Sekandi speaks: Government to meet all funeral expenses.............Church continues

Church service was led by Rev Micheal Owino