Daughter pins Soroti school director in murder of P1 pupil

What the report says

A High Court murder trial in Uganda is hearing evidence over the killing of Joan Faith Apio, a Primary One pupil found dead on February 5, 2025 in a school toilet at Jozan Nursery and Primary School in Soroti. According to The Observer, six adults are charged, including school director Suzan Vivian Ariokot Okedi, her husband Joseph Okedi, the headteacher, a police officer, a cook and a matron. All have denied the allegations.

The latest testimony came from the directors’ daughter, who told the court that her mother played a central role in the killing and later tried to keep her silent. Another juvenile witness, previously discharged from the accused dock and turned into a prosecution witness, also gave evidence. The court had earlier said the young witnesses appeared to have been influenced by adults, and noted their age and time on remand when making that ruling.

The prosecution has also presented forensic evidence through a government DNA analyst. The report said police submitted multiple items from the scene and from suspects for testing, and that blood recovered from a jerrycan and the toilet floor matched Apio. The analyst said one juvenile witness’s DNA was found on some school items, while none of the adult accused matched the exhibits tested.

The case remains in progress, with the prosecution still leading evidence. Seven of the 10 planned prosecution witnesses have testified so far, underscoring a closely watched case involving a school death, alleged adult orchestration and forensic as well as witness testimony.