Because of his role in executing deadly operations, Kayihura rapidly promoted him to ASP and almost immediately to SSP. It is suspected that Kayihura did all this in reward for Agasirwe’s sacrificial role in protecting his boss against would be unruly policemen.
He is said to have been handpicked from a motor garage which he operated in Bwaise, and recruited into the police force under the then Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gen. Kale Kayihura. A resident of Najjeera then, he was assigned as head of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) in charge of containing armed robberies, the Flying Squad and the Special Operations Unit (SOU).
This is none other than Nixon Karuhanga Agasirwe, now under arrest for alleged involvement in the murder of former state prosecutor Joan Kagezi. Agasirwe is also said to have carried out many deadly operations and allegedly tortured suspects into pleading guilty to offences they never committed, and forcing them to testify against certain suspects.
This caused friction with other security agencies including the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) then under the command of Col. Frank Bagyenda Kaka, and the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) under Abel Kandiho.
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Among his most daring and nerve raking operations include the one in October 25, 2013 when, along with other operatives in Mpigi, they abducted former aide to Rwandan President Lt. Joel Mutabaazi and his brother Jackson Karemera, and handed them over to their government, contrary to international migration laws.
Sources indicate that on arrival in Rwanda, Mutabaazi had murder charges slapped on him which earned him a life imprisonment sentence. He had allegedly fled from Rwanda for fear of the fate of his life.
Immediately on promotion to the rank of ASP, Agasirwe was assigned as the RRU commander, and later assigned to S. Sudan on a series of operations for a two-year period. He received ample remuneration for his staff including driver Muhamood Matovu and SPC Abdu Ssemuju alias Minaana, a resident of Ntinda long Kisaasi Road.
He used to arrest victims detained in the dreaded Nalufenya where Kamwenge Town Council Mayor Geoffrey Byamukama was arrested and tortured. In the jail which was closed after intervention of freedom rights activists, Agasirwe had powers of deciding who is to be detained there. The facility was closed for torturing inmates.
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He was also assigned to track the killers of former police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi, working closely with key men including Abel Kitagenda who used to stay on Gayaza Road, Solomon Nuwaha, Wilson Ategeka, ASP Fred Tumuhirwe, Fred Mutabaazi, Julius Kasunguzi, Issa Sserunyiigo, Ronnie Byenkya and Alex Katungi who was arrested earlier this year in relation to land wrangle matters in Kajjansi.
In 2018, a UPDF officer attached to the CMI Sgt. Issa Furaha Arinaitwe wrote a letter to President Museveni narrating how Agasirwe and five other colleagues were being used by a neighbouring country to abduct and kill refugees from Rwanda and Sudan.
They were arrested and accordingly charged in the general military tribunal and remanded. After five years in jail, Agasirwe was released on court bail.
Who is Agasirwe?
Born in Rwentuha village, Sheema district, Agasirwe began life as a shoe hawker in Mbarara. It is said that he was a notorious criminal who was first apprehended by the head of the then ‘Operation Wembley’ Gen Elly Kayanja in 2000.
People close to him say he then turned against his accomplices and started revealing them to police authorities which made him a darling to the force, and he became very handy in apprehending robbers. On assuming office as IGP, Gen Kayihura drew him closer and used him in many deadly operations. He immediately promoted him to Inspector of Police (IP), instead of promoting him to Probation Police Constable (PBC) and then on confirmation, to Police Constable (PC).
Because of his role in executing deadly operations, Kayihura rapidly promoted him to ASP and almost immediately to SSP. It is suspected that Kayihura did all this in reward for Agasirwe’s sacrificial role in protecting his boss against would be unruly policemen.
He became commander of special operations with his office located in Kololo, in the present day seat for the Directorate of Crime Intelligence headed by Brig. Gen. Christopher Ddamulira.
On assuming the rank of SSP, he was taken to Bwebajja Police Training School where he was awarded with a Master’s Degree in Peace and Security.