SOROTI - The Grade One Magistrate’s Court in Soroti has committed eight suspects to the High Court for trial in connection with the murder of five-year-old Joan Faith Apio, a pupil at Jozan Nursery and Primary School. The decision was delivered by His Worship Apollo Kibirige Kasuja following the prosecution’s presentation of compelling preliminary evidence.
Apio’s body was discovered on February 5, 2025, inside a pit latrine on the school premises. She had sustained a deep cut to the neck, a detail that shocked the community and prompted a high-profile investigation. The killing drew widespread condemnation and ignited renewed concerns over the safety and welfare of children within educational institutions.
The suspects committed to stand trial include key figures within the Jozan school administration: Headmaster James Edoket, School Director Joseph Okedi, and Co-director Suzan Vivian Ariokot, who is also Okedi’s wife. Others named are Osula Adongo, the school matron; Valentine Opio, the school cook; and John Bosco Obotol, a police officer and brother to Joseph Okedi. Two minors have also been implicated, though their identities remain protected due to their age.
During Monday’s court session, the magistrate reviewed the evidence presented by the prosecution, which included 11 colored cutter knives, a large knife with a green handle, red slippers, a pair of white stockings, and a school badge belonging to Jamila Primary School. These items were reportedly recovered from the scene and are believed to be linked to the crime.
All eight suspects appeared physically in court and were formally informed of the charges against them. The case has now been referred to the High Court, where full trial proceedings will take place. The trial date is yet to be set.
The disturbing nature of the case has reverberated throughout Soroti and beyond, raising serious questions about school accountability, staff vetting, and the overall protection of children in learning environments. In the aftermath of Apio’s death, child rights advocates have urged the Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities to strengthen safety measures in schools and ensure that those entrusted with the care of children are thoroughly vetted and held to the highest standards of conduct.
As the case moves to the High Court, the community continues to mourn the loss of a young life and awaits justice in what has become one of the most unsettling child murder cases in the region in recent years.
