As announced in my previous post covering this tragic murder – now beyond doubt a ritual murder – dated February 12, Uganda: Wife of school director arrested over suspected ritual sacrifice in pupil’s murder, more news on the last moments of the victim, Joan Faith Apio, a five-year-old pupil at Jozan Nursery and Primary School, whose brutal murder has left Soroti City in shock.
When will it end? Will there ever be a day that ritualistic killings will have ceased to occur?
As the article below describes, outside the cathedral, emotions ran high as thousands of mourners stood in sorrow and solidarity, demanding justice. The pictures tell all. (FVDK)
Emotions Run High As Thousands Bury Ritual Murder Victim Apio in Soroti
Joan Apio had only attended the school for two days when she was brutally murdered
Published: February 16, 2025 By: Eddy Enuru – Nile Post, Uganda
On Sunday, February 16, mourners gathered at St. Immaculate Catholic Parish to pay their last respects. Rev. Fr. Michael Omaria offered condolences to Apio’s grieving family, urging them to seek solace in faith.
Tension ran high at the requiem mass for Joan Faith Apio, a five-year-old pupil at Jozan Nursery and Primary School, whose brutal murder has left Soroti City in shock.
Her lifeless body was discovered locked inside a staff pit latrine on February 5, sending waves of grief and fear through the community.
The tragic incident has raised urgent concerns over the safety of children in private schools.
On Sunday, February 16, mourners gathered at St. Immaculate Catholic Parish to pay their last respects. Rev. Fr. Michael Omaria offered condolences to Apio’s grieving family, urging them to seek solace in faith.
He strongly condemned the ritualistic nature of the crime, calling it abhorrent.
Outside the cathedral, emotions ran high as thousands of mourners stood in sorrow and solidarity, demanding justice.
As public pressure mounted, police intensified their investigations, leading to multiple arrests. Soroti Resident City Commissioner Peter Pex Paak addressed mourners, confirming that several suspects had confessed and would soon face trial.
“Joan’s murder was like a movie. It was carefully planned, and several people played a role in killing her,” Paak stated.
According to investigators, the murder was premeditated and involved at least seven individuals.
Apio and her twin sister, Achen, had only recently joined Jozan Nursery and Primary School after their mother, Evelyn Akol, was reportedly manipulated into enrolling them.
On February 3, Akol unknowingly left her daughters in the hands of those who would later be implicated in the crime.
Two days later, Apio was lured into the staff latrine at around noon, where she was murdered.
Authorities believe one accomplice waited inside the latrine while another led the child in. A third suspect allegedly washed away the evidence immediately after the crime.
Apio’s blood was reportedly collected, wrapped in black plastic, and handed to an unidentified individual who fled the scene.
“We are now hunting for the person who received the blood from behind the school fence and escaped with it,” Paak added.
Police confirmed that all primary suspects were in custody and had provided statements detailing their roles. Meanwhile, authorities are actively pursuing the individual who took the blood.
Investigations also suggest that the director of another school in Soroti played a role in persuading Akol to enroll her daughters at Jozan.
East Kyoga Regional Police Commander Damalie Nakyuha confirmed the arrests of five individuals, including Joseph Okedi, the director of Jozan Nursery and Primary School, his wife, Suzan Vivian Okedi, and head teacher David Kadimba.
She assured the public that more arrests were expected as the probe continued.
Joan Faith Apio, born on December 17, 2019, was laid to rest on February 17, 2025, at her family home in Ateuso, Kapelebyong District.
As the city mourns, the demand for justice grows louder, with parents and authorities calling for greater oversight to protect children from similar tragedies.
Warning: the following post may upset readers as it contains graphic details of a heinous crime (FVDK)
Strictly speaking we are dealing here with a suspected case of ritual murder. In judicial terms, the violent death of the 5-year old girl, Joan Faith Apio, may be labelled murder – not a ritual sacrifice. The reason why I present the case here nonetheless, is that (quote) “The tragedy has reignited public debate on the rising cases of ritual sacrifices in Uganda, with activists calling for tougher measures against individuals involved in such heinous crimes.” (unquote)
The incident occurred in Soroti, in the Eastern Kyoga Region.
Unfortunately, murder for ritualistic proposes and child sacrifice are no unknown crimes in Uganda. In the past I have reported numerous cases of real and suspected cases of ritual murder or ritual sacrifice. (See previous posts using the dropdown menu under ‘African countries’.) Wikipedia even offers a special page on the phenomenon of child sacrifice in Uganda.
As more news emerges on this particular case I will keep you informed. (webmaster FVDK)
Wife of school director arrested over suspected ritual sacrifice
Published: February 1, 2025 By: Eddy Enuru – Nile Post
Police are investigating suspected ritual sacrifice after a 5-year-old nursery pupil was brutally murdered
Police in Soroti have arrested Suzan Vivian Okedi, the wife of the director of Jozan Nursery and Primary School, as part of an ongoing investigation into the suspected ritual killing of 5-year-old Joan Faith Apio.
East Kyoga Region Police Commander (RPC) Damalie Nachuha confirmed the arrest on Monday, February 10.
Ms Okedi was taken into custody alongside her brother, who was apprehended at the school premises.
Their arrest brings the total number of suspects in police custody to five.
Jozan Nursery and Primary School, which has since been closed and sealed off by Police, became the centre of investigations following Apio’s gruesome murder last week.
Authorities believe key evidence related to the incident may be found within the school.
RPC Nachuha assured the public that Police are diligently gathering more evidence to ensure that justice is served. She urged patience as investigations continue.
“This is a sensitive case, and we are working closely with forensic experts to uncover the truth. The public should remain calm as we handle this matter with the seriousness it deserves,” Nachuha stated.
Apio, a twin, had only spent three days at the school’s boarding section before she was found dead under horrifying circumstances.
Her throat had been removed, and her lifeless body was discovered locked inside the staff pit-latrine. The gruesome discovery was made by the school matron, Ms Osula Adong, who described the scene with deep distress.
The incident has sent shockwaves across Soroti and beyond, with parents and community members demanding justice for the young girl.
Many have also raised concerns about the safety of children in boarding schools, calling for increased security and stricter regulations.
As investigations continue, the police have vowed to leave no stone unturned in establishing the motive behind Apio’s killing and identifying all those responsible.
Meanwhile, parents whose children were enrolled at Jozan Nursery and Primary School are in distress, with some calling for permanent closure of the institution.
The tragedy has reignited public debate on the rising cases of ritual sacrifices in Uganda, with activists calling for tougher measures against individuals involved in such heinous crimes. (bold letter type and italics aded by the Webmaster FVDK)
Police intensify search at Jozan Nursery and Primary School in Apio murder case
Published: February 12, 2025 By: Eddy Enuru – Nile Post
The arrest of Suzan Vivian Okedi, wife of the director of Jozan Nursery and Primary School, has intensified investigations into the gruesome murder of 5-year-old Joan Faith Apio.
Apio, a Primary One pupil, was found dead in horrifying circumstances, her body discovered locked inside a staff latrine with her throat slit.
The shocking incident has sent shockwaves through the Soroti community, prompting calls for justice and enhanced safety measures for children in boarding schools.
A team of Scene of Crime officers and senior investigators from the East Kyoga Regional Police, led by Regional Police Commander Damalie Nachuha, continues to gather evidence.
“Police have once again revisited Jozan Nursery and Primary School to search for physical evidence that could shed light on this disturbing incident. The school has been closed and sealed off as investigations continue,” Nachuha stated.
As the probe unfolds, police have arrested four other suspects, including the school director, Joseph Okedi, school matron Osula Adong, a head teacher, and a relative of Okedi.
Authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to thoroughly investigating the case while ensuring public safety.
The incident has sparked widespread concern among parents and community members over the security of children in educational institutions, particularly in boarding schools.
Many have called for stricter regulations to protect children from potential harm.
Beyond the immediate tragedy, the school’s closure has also raised economic concerns.
Local business owners who supplied food and other materials to the institution worry about potential financial losses due to uncollected payments.
Public outrage over Apio’s murder has also reignited discussions on ritual sacrifices in Uganda, with many demanding stricter laws and stronger enforcement against such crimes. (bold letter type and italics added by the webmaster FVDK).
As investigations progress, the community remains in mourning, and police continue working to ensure justice for Apio and her grieving family.
Grief, Outrage as Family of Murdered Twin Seeks Justice for Joan Apio Faith
Published: February 12, 2025 By: Eddy Enuru – Nile Post
The family of five-year-old Joan Apio Faith is engulfed in profound sorrow following her brutal murder at Jozan Nursery and Primary School.
Their home in Malinga Cell, Nakatunya Ward, Soroti City West, is filled with mourners, yet their hope for justice remains dim.
They are now focused on arranging a befitting burial at their ancestral home in Otela Ikiliok, Akoromit, Kapelebyong District.
Apio’s twin sister, Achen Angela Faith, is deeply traumatized and now fears returning to school.
Through tears, she recounted their last moments together in the dormitory before an unidentified man took Apio towards the latrine.
Later, she saw a man and a woman carrying Apio’s lifeless body into a car before it was transported to the hospital.
Margaret Akol, one of Apio’s grandmothers, expressed profound sorrow, recalling how she had lived with the twins in Gulu before they went to school.
Sobbing, she demanded, “We want total justice for our little Apio.”
Apio’s other grandmother, Agayo Mary Among, tearfully recounted how the family was initially informed that the child was sick and receiving treatment in the hospital’s outpatient department.
However, upon arrival, they were met with the devastating reality—Apio’s lifeless body locked in the mortuary.
Apio’s mother, Evelyn Akol, broke down as she recalled the moment she found her daughter dead.
“I first reported with my children on February 3rd and paid three-quarters of the school fees. The bursar assured me of their safety. On Tuesday morning, I spoke to the matron, and she assured me the children were fine. On Wednesday at 6:50 PM, while at work, I received a call from the bursar saying one twin daughter is sick and has been admitted at the hospital. I immediately jumped on a boda-boda because my children had never been in such a situation. I thought she was receiving a blood transfusion. We rushed from Katakwi to the hospital, arriving in less than an hour. I moved around the hospital like a mad person, ward to ward, I wasn’t seeing my child. I heard some people talking about mortuary, mortuary… I had to rush there only to find the mortuary locked but through the glass, I saw my daughter lying lifeless on the school uniform on the mortuary bed,” Akol narrated before collapsing in grief.
Apio’s aunt, Mary Among, is now demanding that authorities demolish the latrine where the murder reportedly occurred and conduct a thorough investigation into what might be hidden beneath it.
As part of an ongoing investigation into the suspected ritual killing, police have arrested five suspects in connection with the murder.
Among those arrested is Suzan Vivian Okedi, the wife of the director of Jozan Nursery and Primary School. East Kyoga Regional Police Commander (RPC) Damalie Nachuha confirmed the arrest on Monday, February 10.
Okedi was taken into custody alongside her brother, who was apprehended on the school premises.
The others in custody are the school director Joseph Kedi, school headteacher David Kadimba, deputy headteacher, and the matron.
Joan Apio Faith was born on December 17, 2019, and was tragically killed on February 5, 2025. Her grieving family now clings to prayers, hoping that justice will be served for their little girl. The deceased body is still lying at the hospital mortuary, according to the family.
