Jozan School Director’s Wife Gets Life Sentence for Murder of Five-Year-Old Pupil

SOROTI, Uganda — The wife of the director of Jozan Nursery and Primary School has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of five-year-old pupil Joan Faith Apio, with her husband and brother-in-law also handed lengthy prison terms.

The High Court in Soroti on Thursday sentenced Ariokot Susan Vivian Okedi to life imprisonment after she and two relatives were convicted over the killing of the Primary One pupil in February 2025.

Her husband, Okedi Joseph, the director of Jozan Nursery and Primary School, was sentenced to 35 years in prison, while his brother, Obotol John Bosco, was handed a 45-year prison sentence.

Resident Judge Justice Boniface Wamala imposed the sentences after finding the three family members guilty of the murder.

The case arose from the death of Apio on February 5, 2025, two days after she and her twin sister had been taken to Jozan Nursery and Primary School by their mother.

The mother had entrusted the two children to the school administration on February 3. She remained in contact with the school on February 3 and 4 and was assured that the twins were well.

However, on February 5, the school informed her that Apio had fallen ill and had been taken to Soroti Regional Referral Hospital.

When the mother arrived at the hospital, she found her daughter already dead.

The circumstances surrounding the child’s death prompted a police report and an investigation that eventually led to the arrest of the school director, his wife and his brother.

Obotol was at the time a police officer attached to the Crime Intelligence Department at Soroti East Division.

Two juveniles were also arrested in connection with the case.

At the start of the trial, the charges against the two juveniles were amended to accessory to the fact of murder. They were subsequently convicted and sentenced to one year, five months and 28 days in prison.

The juveniles later testified for the prosecution, providing evidence against the three adult accused persons.

The prosecution was led by Assistant DPP Soroti Gladys Macrina Nyanzi, whose case relied partly on the testimony of the juveniles and other evidence presented during the trial.

A post-mortem examination provided further evidence about how the child died.

According to the findings presented to court, Apio had sustained three incisional wounds on the neck, running from the left side to the right.

The injuries were extensive. The examination found that the child’s trachea, oesophagus and blood vessels had been completely severed, while the thyroid bone had also been fractured.

The pathologist determined that the child died from excessive bleeding resulting from extensive damage to the soft tissues and blood vessels of the neck.

The manner of death was recorded as homicide.

During the trial, the court also heard evidence concerning the motive for the killing.

It was established that Apio was a twin and that her killing was linked to a belief that her death would bring blessings.

The circumstances surrounding the child’s death and the evidence presented during the proceedings ultimately led to the conviction of the three adult members of the family.

Justice Wamala subsequently handed down the sentences on Thursday, with Ariokot receiving the most severe punishment of life imprisonment.

Her husband, Okedi, received 35 years, while his brother Obotol was sentenced to 45 years.

The case has left questions about the safety and protection of children entrusted to schools, particularly after Apio’s death occurred only two days after she and her twin sister had been admitted to the school.

For the family of Apio, the court’s decision marks the conclusion of a case that began with the sudden death of a five-year-old girl and ended with three adults being convicted and sentenced for her murder.