uganda 7 August 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Court Orders Production of CCTV Footage in Murder Trial of P.1 Pupil
The High Court in Soroti has ordered Soroti Regional Referral Hospital and Pride Bank to produce CCTV footage relevant to the murder trial of seven-year-old Joan Faith Apio. This decision comes after two accused school directors claimed the footage could corroborate their alibis. Source: https://observer.ug/news/court-orders-production-of-bank-hospital-cctv-footage-in-p-1-pupil-murder-trial
In a significant development for the ongoing murder trial of Joan Faith Apio, a seven-year-old pupil, the High Court in Soroti has mandated the production of crucial CCTV footage. The court’s order directs both Soroti Regional Referral Hospital and a branch of Pride Bank in Soroti to submit recordings from February 5, 2025.
This directive stems from an application by two of the six accused, school directors Suzan Vivian Ariokot and Joseph Okedi, of Jozan Nursery and Primary School. They argue that the footage could provide evidence supporting their accounts of their whereabouts on the day the pupil was found dead in the school’s latrine.
Ariokot testified that she was at Pride Bank seeking a loan during the time of the incident. She claims that her mobile phones, confiscated by police after her arrest, were linked to CCTV cameras at her business, and she believes this footage could exonerate her. She also alleged mistreatment by security personnel during her detention.
Okedi, the other school director, requested footage from Soroti Regional Referral Hospital. He stated that he rushed Apio to the hospital after she was found unconscious and believes the hospital’s CCTV could contradict a prosecution witness’s claim that he described the death as an accident upon arrival.
While the prosecution argued that the defence’s request was made late and intended to delay the trial, Justice Boniface Wamala ruled that the accused are entitled to a fair opportunity to present their defence. He emphasized that obtaining the footage should not cause undue delays in the proceedings.
The six accused, including the school directors, headteacher, cook, matron, and a police officer, have all pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. So far, only the two school directors have completed presenting their defence, with the remaining four expected to testify when the trial resumes.