Three Convicted in Gruesome Murder of 5-Year-Old Pupil Dumped in Latrine

The High Court in Soroti has delivered a significant verdict in the murder case of five-year-old Joan Faith Apio, a pupil at Jozan Nursery and Primary School. The court has convicted Suzan Vivian Ariokot Okedi, school director Joseph Okedi, and Detective Police Constable John Bosco Obotol for their involvement in the brutal killing of the young student.

Apio, who was a twin, had only been at the school for three days when she was killed on February 5, 2025. Her lifeless body was later found in a school pit latrine, with a postmortem report confirming she died from a deep cut to the neck. The court heard evidence that a cutter knife was used in the commission of the crime.

Justice Boniface Wamala, presiding over the case, stated that the prosecution successfully proved all elements of murder against the three convicted individuals. Evidence presented included testimony from juvenile witnesses who implicated Ms. Ariokot in procuring the weapon used in the murder. The court also considered evidence placing Constable Obotol near the scene of the crime shortly after the incident.

While Mr. Okedi did not directly inflict the fatal injury, the judge found him complicit in the planning of the murder. The court noted that the cutter knife was not a standard school item but was added to a shopping list on the day of the murder. Furthermore, Mr. Okedi provided a false account of events to the police and transported the deceased’s body to the hospital after her death, pretending she was still alive.

Three other individuals initially accused, including the head teacher, cook, and canteen attendant, were acquitted due to insufficient evidence linking them to the crime. The convicted trio are awaiting sentencing, which will consider the severity of the offense and their pleas for mitigation. Murder in Uganda carries the maximum penalty of death by hanging.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda) https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/school-director-two-others-convicted-over-jozan-pupil-murder-5565568