Residents accused authorities of shielding the suspects from public scrutiny, leading to violent protests that resulted in the torching and looting of the school.
Public outrage erupted in Soroti following the decision to conduct a virtual court session for eight suspects in the brutal murder of Joan Faith Apio, a seven-year-old pupil at Jozan Nursery and Primary School.
Residents accused authorities of shielding the suspects from public scrutiny, leading to violent protests that resulted in the torching and looting of the school.
Hundreds had gathered outside the Soroti Grade One Magistrate's Court, expecting to see the suspects appear in person.
However, when news broke that the proceedings would be held virtually, anger boiled over, escalating into chaos when the court adjourned for further mention at next hearing.
Security forces were swiftly deployed to contain the unrest, but tensions remain high as the community continues to demand justice.
The suspects, including school directors Joseph Okedi and Suzan Vivian Ariokot Okedi, headteacher James Edoket, police officer John Bosco Obotol, school cook Valentine Opio, matron Osula Adong, and two juveniles, appeared virtually before Grade One Magistrate Apollo Kibirige Kassujja.
Apio's gruesome murder on February 5, 2025, shocked the nation, sparking widespread calls for swift justice.
The involvement of high-profile individuals has only intensified public pressure on law enforcement and the judiciary to ensure accountability.
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In an attempt to pacify the angry crowd, Magistrate Kasujja explained that the delays in the case were due to ongoing police investigations and not the court's fault.
"Court does not investigate cases. Our role is to examine the evidence presented by the police. Until investigations are complete, this matter cannot proceed to trial," he said.
The magistrate told the court that the case remains at the mention stage.
He further reassured the public that the suspects remain on remand in separate detention facilities as investigations continue.
The case was adjourned to April 3, 2025, when the court will review the status of the police file and determine whether to commit the suspects to the High Court.
While virtual hearings are legally recognized and part of judicial reforms aimed at improving efficiency, the Soroti incident highlighted the gap in public understanding of evolving court procedures.
The backlash underscores the need for greater sensitization on technological innovations in the justice system, especially in sensitive cases.
As the legal process unfolds, Soroti residents remain determined to keep a close watch, vowing that justice for Apio will not be derailed by procedural delays.
