SSP Nickson Agasirwe at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Nakawa, Kampala on June 16, 2025. PHOTO/ABUBAKER LUBOWA
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nickson Agasirwe Karuhanga arrived at the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court under tight security yesterday at exactly 10am.
He was chauffeured in a grey police van commonly known as a “drone” and heavily flanked by armed operatives from the Joint Anti-Terrorism (JAT) unit.
In the early morning sunshine, the serving elite police commander appeared visibly tense and subdued.
Dressed in a grey, black, white and green checked shirt paired with black trousers and brown leather shoes, Agasirwe wore an expression that suggested the weight of the moment was not lost on him.
SSP Nixon Agasirwe is brought to the Chief Magistrate's Court in Nakawa, Kampala on June 16, 2025, where he was charged with the 2015 murder of Senior State Prosecutor Joan Kagezi. He was remanded to Luzira Upper Prison until July 8, 2025. PHOTO / ABUBAKER LUBOWA
He was escorted quietly into the courtroom by the JATT officers as the public and media watched in hushed anticipation.
After nearly a decade of investigations, Agasirwe was formally charged and remanded to Luzira Upper Prison in connection with the 2015 assassination of Senior Principal State Attorney Joan Namazzi Kagezi.
ALSO READ: How security arrested police chief Agasirwe
Agasirwe’s arrest last month sent shockwaves through security and legal circles after he was linked directly to Kagezi’s murder.
According to state prosecutors, he is suspected of having orchestrated and financed the murder using government resources.
Appearing before Nakawa Chief Magistrate Esther Nyadoi, Agasirwe stood quietly as she read the charge.
“This court has no jurisdiction to entertain your matter. You are only here to have the charge read to you,” the magistrate firmly stated.
Ms Nyadoi explained that since this is a capital offence, Agasirwe was not permitted to enter a plea at this stage.
SSP Nixon Agasirwe in the dock at the Chief Magistrate's Court in Nakawa, Kampala on June 16, 2025, where he was charged with the 2015 murder of Senior State Prosecutor Joan Kagezi. He was remanded to Luzira Upper Prison until July 8, 2025. PHOTO / ABUBAKER LUBOWA
The prosecution alleges that on March 30, 2015, at Kiwatule in Nakawa Division, Kampala District, Agasirwe and others still at large, with malice aforethought, unlawfully caused the death of Joan Kagezi.
The prosecutor was gunned down by unknown assailants while she sat in her car with her children after stopping to buy groceries on her way home from work.
At the time of her murder, Kagezi was the lead prosecutor in the high-profile trial of suspects involved in the 2010 Kampala bombings.
The case, which involved links to the al-Shabaab terror network, made her a prime target for extremist retaliation.
Her death brought ongoing anti-terrorism prosecutions to a standstill and sparked outrage across the country and beyond.
The breakthrough in the case came during proceedings before the High Court’s International Crimes Division, where the prosecution’s key witness, Daniel Kisekka, testified under oath that a man known as “Nickson” paid for the hit while driving a government vehicle.
Daniel Kisekka (in red t-shirt) and other suspects in the court dock on November 6, 2023. Photo | Abubaker Lubowa
Kisekka, who is currently serving a 35-year sentence after pleading guilty to Kagezi’s murder, claimed the motive was to eliminate her for interfering in cases involving Muslim suspects.
Back at court, Agasirwe requested a postponement of the matter, saying his lawyer had only been informed at the last minute and was not present.
“I have a right to legal representation,” he told the magistrate.
But the Nakawa Chief Magistrate overruled his plea.
“This is a capital offence where charges have already been communicated, and a plea not taken. I appreciate that the accused has a right to legal representation, and he will inform his lawyer, who can access the record. That right remains intact,” Ms Nyadoi ruled.
Meanwhile, the prosecution, led by Principal State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka, informed the court that investigations into the matter are still ongoing.
The State also requested additional time to conclude its inquiries before the matter could be committed to the High Court for trial.
The magistrate remanded Agasirwe to Luzira Upper Prison until July 8, when the case will return to court for mention.
This is not the first time Agasirwe has been sent to Luzira.
In October 2017, he was arrested and charged alongside former Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura before the General Court Martial.
He faced accusations of unlawful possession of grenades and the illegal repatriation of Rwandan refugees, a case that further tainted the reputation of Uganda’s top security operatives.
As the legal process unfolds, the public, Kagezi’s family, and the legal fraternity continue to wait for answers and justice in a case that has haunted Uganda’s legal system for nearly a decade.
Murdered: Joan Kagezi
Other suspects in Kagezi murder case are John Kibuuka, John Masajjage, and Nasur Abudallah Mugonole.
SSP Agasirwe’s profile
2001-2002: Nickson Agasirwe started working with the police under Operation Wembley, a unit established by President Museveni to fight violent crime.
2003: He was retained in Violent Crime Crack Unit (VCCU) after Operation Wembley wound up.
2004: He was alleged to have shot dead a street kid only identified as Bitone in Masaka Town (now city). He was cleared of the murder case after investigations. 2006: He was among the 69 VCCU operatives recommended by the then head of the VCCU, Senior Commissioner of Police (Rtd) David Magara to be retained in the police. 2007: He formally enlisted in the Uganda Police Force as a Special Police Constable in a new unit dubbed Rapid Response Unit.
2009: He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector of Police skipping three ranks.
2009: He was again promoted to the rank of Inspector of Police. He also returned to school to complete his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education. He completed it.
2010: He joined Uganda Islamic University in Uganda to pursue a bachelor’s degree in law.
2011: He, alongside all RRU operatives, was suspended in RRU on allegations of human rights abuse.
2012: He was recalled and appointed the Head of operations in RRU.
2013: He was accused by the then Coordinator of Military Intelligence, Gen David Sejusa of being part of an assassination group under the then Commander of Special Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba targeting those against the so-called Muhoozi Project to ensure that the First Son replaces his father, President Museveni after his retirement. 2013: He is appointed the head of a new crime crack unit dubbed Flying Squad Unit. But he didn’t last for months before he was sent to South Sudan to help in the fight against crime involving Ugandans.
2014: He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police upon return to Uganda. He was appointed Commander of Special Operations Unit.
2016: He was promoted to the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police. He also graduated from IUIU with a law degree. He was sent to the police college in Bwebajja for an intermediate course.
2017: He was arrested on allegations of the murder of Assistant Inspector General of Police Andrew Kaweesi. A joint investigation exonerated him and others of the murder. The investigation team found out that he was at the police college Bwebajja when the shooting happened.
2018: He was later presented in the General Court Martial on allegations of illegal repatriation of Rwandan refugees and failing to protect war materiel before they were remanded. He was bailed out later. He went on to marry again. 2024: The military prosecutors dropped the charges.
Former commander of Police Special Operations, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nixon Agasirwe, has been released after spending four years on remand at Makindye Military Barracks. PHOTO/ JULIET KIGONGO
