Lawyers Raise Concerns Over Handling of Case Against Driver in Next Media Crash

What the report says

Lawyers for the families of former Next Media employees Isaac Ndamagye and Badru Kasirye have asked Kajjansi Magistrates Court in Uganda to let the relatives take a more active role in the criminal case linked to the men’s deaths. The request was raised on Friday by a legal team led by Sarah Atai, according to Nile Post, as the matter came up before court in connection with the August 7, 2026 crash on Entebbe Road in the Namulanda area.

The case concerns 45-year-old John Baptist Junior Kigozi, who faces two charges over the fatal collision. Prosecutors allege he was driving a Toyota Hilux that hit a vehicle carrying three Next Media employees. The crash killed Ndamagye and Kasirye and left their colleague Brian Makona seriously injured. Kigozi has denied the charges and was remanded in custody after his first court appearance.

Nile Post reported that Friday’s hearing did not go ahead because the magistrate assigned to the matter was unavailable and the government prosecutor did not appear. Magistrate Paska Olupot adjourned the case to August 31, 2026. The families’ lawyers said they had not been adequately updated on developments and asked the court to consider allowing more family participation and, separately, to examine whether the state should continue handling the case.

The next session is expected to address bail and other procedural issues. More broadly, the case is being watched because it involves the deaths of two media workers and raises questions about how victims’ families are informed and involved in criminal proceedings.