“Please Save Me, Kale Kayihura!” Dramatic Court Scene in Joan Kagezi Murder Case As New SS uspect Begs For Help

Tension filled the courtroom at Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court as Abdul Noor Ssemwogerere Ssemujju, widely known as Minana, made a shocking outburst during his appearance on charges connected to the 2015 murder of senior state prosecutor Joan Kagezi.

As the court session got underway, Minana—once a feared operative of the Police Flying Squad—suddenly shouted, “Please save me, Kale Kayihura!” The loud cry, naming the former Inspector General of Police, stunned those in attendance. For a moment, the entire courtroom went silent as people tried to process what had just happened.

Minana was recently arrested and charged alongside another former senior security officer, Nixon Agasiirwe, over the cold-blooded killing of Kagezi. At the time of her assassination, Joan Kagezi was prosecuting some of the country’s most sensitive cases, including terrorism and war crimes tied to the 2010 Kampala bombings. She was gunned down in March 2015 while driving home, in a case that has haunted the nation ever since.

In court, Minana was brought before Chief Magistrate Esther Nyadoi but was not allowed to enter a plea. Murder charges are only handled by the High Court, and so the case must first be committed for trial before any formal plea can be made.

Representing the state, Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka requested more time, informing the magistrate that investigations are still ongoing. The magistrate granted the request and ordered that Minana be remanded to Luzira Prison until July 8, when the case will return for mention.

Minana’s courtroom outburst has now sparked serious questions. Why did he cry out to Gen. Kale Kayihura? Was it a call for help, a cry of loyalty, or a desperate attempt to reveal hidden truths?

Kayihura, who led Uganda’s police force for over a decade, worked closely with many officers now under investigation or facing charges. Some observers believe Minana’s plea could hint at deeper connections within the security ranks—perhaps even suggesting that he feels abandoned or betrayed.

Minana is now the second high-profile former security officer to be formally charged in connection to Kagezi’s killing. His arrest and dramatic court appearance have renewed public interest in the case and fueled hope that justice, long delayed, might finally be served.

For a nation still mourning the loss of a fearless prosecutor, the courtroom cry—“Please save me, Kale Kayihura!”—echoes far beyond the walls of Nakawa Court, raising urgent questions about accountability, justice, and the true story behind Joan Kagezi’s tragic death.