news 2 August 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
School Director's Daughter Accuses Mother in P1 Pupil's Murder Trial
The daughter of a school director has provided damning testimony in the High Court, accusing her mother of orchestrating the murder of a first-grader whose body was found locked in a school toilet. Two juveniles initially implicated have been discharged to testify for the prosecution. Source: https://observer.ug/news/daughter-pins-soroti-school-director-in-murder-of-p1-pupil
A chilling trial is unfolding in the High Court as the daughter of Suzan Vivian Ariokot Okedi, director of Jozan Nursery and Primary School, has accused her mother of masterminding the murder of P1 pupil Joan Faith Apio.
Apio’s lifeless body was discovered on February 5, 2025, inside a locked school toilet. The prosecution is building its case, with six adults, including the school directors, headteacher, a police officer, cook, and matron, jointly charged with the murder. All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Forensic evidence presented in court revealed that blood found in the toilet belonged to the deceased pupil. DNA analysis also detected the presence of a juvenile witness (identified as A6) on a blue school sweater and badge.
In her testimony, witness A6 stated that Ariokot instructed her to bring Apio to the toilet under the pretense of meeting her father. A6 claims she witnessed Ariokot take the child inside and later heard a scream. She alleges Ariokot used a knife to widen a wound on the child’s neck and removed an object before handing it to a police officer.
A7, the daughter of the school directors, provided further testimony, alleging her mother confessed to the murder and threatened her into silence. She also stated her mother later instructed her to dispose of toilet keys with a police officer present.
The prosecution has presented seven of its ten planned witnesses so far as the trial continues.
Source: The Observer (Uganda)