KOLOLO –President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commended the Children of the late Joan Kagezi for properly utilizing the opportunities extended to them by the government.
While officiating the opening ceremony of the 7th Joan Kagezi Memorial lecture held at Kololo Airstrip on Thursday, Museveni revealed that he first saw these children while they were still young but he has been surprised that they are now well educated , responsible adults.
“We shall support the families of all public who die in the course of duty for the betterment of this country because if we don’t , it will result into many cowards. People will not risk their lives in service for fear on who will take care of their children after death.”
Museveni commended the security agencies for having worked tirelessly to bring to boke the suspects accused of murdering Joan Kagezi after a very long period of time and assured the public that the law will take its course.
For the understaffing , underfunding within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Museveni promised that very soon he will hold an engagement with the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice to find how to properly handle the budgetary process.
“Since that you were the chief investigator and me I was the ground cooperator, I want to assure you that we have very good leads on the people who paid these people and your excellence we are going to brief you.” Remarked AIGP Tom Magambo, Director CID
The two children present at the lecture namely; George Phillip Kagezi holds a Masters Degree in commercial Law from a UK based University and currently run a hospitality Consultancy, the daughter Carol Milcah Kagezi ,graduated with a double degree in Law and Journalism from South Africa, she currently serve as task force member at Ministry of ICT and National guidance making recommendations on policies.
The two young ones are currently in Canada pursuing undergraduate degrees in various disciplines.
The Chief Justice , Aliphonse Owiny Dollo at the same event informed the gathering that by the time of Kagezi’s murder, she was handling a case before him of the 2010 bombing and therefore he advised the Assessors in the matter not to get biased in their opinion as a result of the rumors surrounding the Prosecutor’s death by then.
Dollo also added that the killers acted against African traditions when they killed a woman which is against the traditional African setting.
Hon Annet Anita Among, the Speaker of Parliament, described Kagezi as the beacon of justice , a guardian of rule of law and fearless warrior who sacrificed her life in serving the nation.
Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, the Director of Public Prosecutions thanked the President for his continued support to the Directorate as she prayed for more support for effective operation of prosecutors to match with the Judicial staff whose numbers were increased recently.
“We received some improvement in the staff welfare, following your directive with support of Parliament and Ministry if Finance. Prosecutors’ PAYE was waived.”
She added that this was a great motivating factor to the ODPP staff and she reminded the President of the 250 million shillings balance on his pledge to the Prosecutor’s Sacco.
“Last year we recruited 100 new state Attorneys which is the highest number of recruits this office has ever made. It was made possible by the Chief Justice who not only pushed for an increment in the staffing level of the officers in the ODPP, but he went an extra mile and ordered that part of his budget be given to us which was done.”
On Kagezi, Abodo described her a very hardworking prosecutor who mentored many of them on top of handling successful handling many prominent cases.
The memorial lecture attracted people from all walks of life, Government, Legal fraternity, Civil Society Organizations, Kagezi Family , Academia among others.
Joan Kagezi was gunned on 30th March 2020 at Kiwatule , a city suburb as she was heading back home.
