Soroti City Woman MP in court over burning school

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Soroti City Woman MP Joan Alobo, together with 12 city residents, is today, May 15, 2025, appearing before the Soroti chief magistrate court over arson of Jozan Nursery and Primary School.

The suspects are accused of committing the offences on March 6, 2025, according to the prosecution.

Angry people burnt down the school after Joan Faith Apio, 5, a P1 pupil, was found murdered inside the school toilet in February.

Joan Faith Apio during a church service last year. She is a catholic. (File)

Police accused Alobo of inciting members of the public to go and burn the school.

Court granted Alobo cash bail of sh2m, but denied the 12 other suspects bail and have been on remand since March 6. The reason of court denied them bail was a result of presiding chief magistrate Hilda Bakanasa Walaga being away, and upon her return, the prosecutors attending to the High court session that has been ongoing in Teso region for over a month now.

The suspects are being represented by lawyers MP Moses Bitek Junior, Edmund Elasu and Gabriel Ogire, who say they are ready to apply for bail for their clients, who denied the charges.

Joseph Okedi drinking water in the dock with police officer Obotol and Suzan Vivian Okedi, the wife of Okedi, on Wednesday when they were charged with murder. (Photo by Godfrey Ojore)

“We have all the documents and sureties who are ready to stand surety of these suspects; however, our hands have been tied since the prosecutors were indisposed,” Bitek told New Vision Online.

The suspects in prison included Joseph Osege, Solomon Obura, Nara Akiror, Joseph Egimu, Emmanuel Okiror, James Odongo, Stephen Okello, Juma Ogwel, Moses Olipa, Sam Idakun, Joseph Okol and Mark Obonyo.

It is hoped that the suspects shall today be granted bail only if the prosecutors are available.

They have been sharing the cells with the suspects charged with the murder of Apio, who have now spent 53 days on remand.

These are school director Joseph Okedi, his wife Suzan Vivian Ariokot, headteacher James Edoket and Okedi's brother John Bosco Obotol, a Police officer.

Others on remand are school matron Osula Adongo (at Luzira women’s prison), school cook Valentin Opio and two juveniles, one being the daughter of Okedi.

They were yesterday further remanded by the grade one magistrate, Apollo Kibirige, to May 29, 2025, due to a lack of prosecutors.