Soroti School Directors Convicted in 6-Year-Old's Murder; Headteacher, Matron Acquitted

The High Court in Soroti has delivered a guilty verdict for two directors of Jozan Nursery and Primary School, Suzan Vivian Ariokot and Joseph Okedi, along with police officer John Bosco Obotol, in connection with the murder of six-year-old Joan Faith Apio.

Apio was discovered deceased with her throat slit in the school’s latrine on February 5, 2025. While six individuals were initially charged, Justice Boniface Wamala of the Soroti High Court acquitted the headteacher, James Edoket, the school cook, Valentine Opio, and the matron, Osula Adong. The judge cited a lack of sufficient evidence to link these three to the killing.

Justice Wamala stated that the prosecution presented 11 witnesses, but their testimony did not establish a strong connection between Edoket, Opio, and Adong and the murder. For the headteacher, evidence suggested his actions were limited to assisting in retrieving Apio’s body from the latrine and transporting her to the hospital.

The court heard that Edoket, alongside Okedi, used an iron bar to break open the latrine padlock. However, the judge ruled that Edoket had no involvement in the planning or execution of the murder, nor was there evidence of common intention.

Regarding the cook, Opio, the prosecution’s case hinged on a claim by Ariokot that Opio possessed crucial information. Justice Wamala found no supporting evidence for this, and Opio’s testimony indicated he worked at the school until the afternoon before returning late at night after learning of the incident.

The matron, Adong, was implicated regarding a knife suspected to be the murder weapon. However, the court found that the alleged sale of the knife was not conclusively proven and that Adong had only recently joined the school staff.

“In any circumstances, Osula has not been linked by any evidence to the killing of Apio either directly or by common intention. Her participation in the murder of Apio has not been proved beyond reasonable doubt,” Justice Wamala ruled.

Consequently, the court found Ariokot, Okedi, and Obotol guilty of murder, while Edoket, Opio, and Adong were discharged. The defense lawyers have requested leniency for the convicted individuals during sentencing. The prosecution sought an adjournment to analyze the judgment before making sentencing submissions.

Source: The Observer (Uganda)