Kampala, Uganda — Jailed senior police officer Nixon Agasirwe Karuhanga has filed a bail application before the High Court as he awaits trial for the alleged 2015 murder of former Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Joan Namazzi Kagezi.
Agasirwe — who holds the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police — is currently detained at Luzira Maximum Security Prison after being committed to the High Court following a prolonged investigation and committal hearing late last year. The murder of Kagezi, a senior prosecutor shot dead in March 2015 in Kampala, has remained one of Uganda’s most high-profile unresolved criminal cases until recent arrests and charges.
In his bail application, Agasirwe says he was formally charged with murder — contrary to Sections 171 and 172 of the Penal Code Act — on June 16, 2025, at Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court, before being remanded to Luzira prison pending trial.
As part of his bid for release, Agasirwe has presented three sureties, including close family members and a friend, to support his application. His lawyers argue that he is entitled to bail pending the determination of his case.
High Court Justice Isaac Muwata has responded by giving the prosecution one week to file its submissions opposing the bail application, setting the stage for a potentially lengthy legal process before a final decision is made.
The case has drawn widespread attention, both because of the senior profile of the accused and the prominence of the victim, who was leading major prosecutions including terrorism and other serious cases at the time of her killing. Prosecutors allege that Agasirwe played a central role in planning and executing the murder, though detailed evidence remains before the High Court.
Justice Muwata’s ruling on the bail application — expected after the week-long deadline for submissions — will determine whether Agasirwe can be released on bail pending the full trial, or will remain in custody until his case is heard.
