DNA evidence presented in the High Court in Soroti links only one juvenile witness, identified as A6, to forensic exhibits recovered during investigations into the killing of Joan Faith Apio, a 6-year-old Primary One pupil at Jozan Nursing and Primary School, a forensic analyst testified on Monday.
Apio was found dead in a school latrine on Feb. 5, 2025.
The evidence was presented as prosecutors continued leading witnesses in the trial of six adults charged with orchestrating the killing. All have denied the charges.
Ambrose Wilber Mugarurwa, a forensic biology analyst with the Directorate of Forensic Services, told the court that police submitted 18 exhibits to the Government Analytical Laboratory for DNA analysis.
The exhibits included blood samples from the accused, swabs collected from the crime scene, a tricycle padlock allegedly used to lock the victim in the toilet, a green utility knife recovered from the latrine, a blue school sweater, white socks belonging to A6, and blood samples from both the deceased and A6.
Mugarurwa testified that DNA recovered from blood on a jerrycan and on the floor of the school toilet matched Apio.
He also told the court that A6’s DNA was detected on cuttings taken from the waist and collar of a blue school sweater and on a school badge submitted as evidence.
According to the analyst, DNA profiles from the exhibits were compared with samples from the deceased and all suspects, but only A6’s profile matched one of the exhibits.
The forensic testimony came days after two juveniles admitted participating in the events surrounding the killing and were discharged by the High Court to testify as prosecution witnesses. The judge ruled that evidence indicated the children may have been manipulated by adults and considered both their ages and the time they had spent on remand before ordering their release.
The accused are school directors Joseph Okedi and Suzan Vivian Ariokot Okedi, head teacher James Edoket, police officer John Bosco Obotol, school cook Valentine Opio and school matron Osula Adong. They have all pleaded not guilty to murder.
In earlier testimony, A6 told the court that Ariokot instructed her to bring one of a pair of twin sisters to the school toilet, saying they were going to meet their father.
A6 testified that she escorted Apio to the toilet but became suspicious and hid nearby. She said she later saw Ariokot take the child into the toilet before hearing her scream.
The witness further alleged that she later found Apio lying face down with a cut to her neck. A6 testified that Ariokot instructed her to collect a knife from the school canteen before allegedly using it to enlarge the wound, remove an object from the child’s throat and place it in a black polythene bag, which she said was handed to Obotol.
A6 told the court she remained silent because Ariokot threatened to kill her if she disclosed what she had witnessed.
A second juvenile witness, identified as A7, also testified after the court determined that she understood the duty to tell the truth.
Before she testified, Ariokot objected, arguing that the child was not truthful.
A7 told the court that she initially lied in her first police statement after being instructed by her mother but later gave investigators what she described as a truthful account. She alleged that her mother confessed to killing Apio and warned her not to tell anyone.
She also testified that Ariokot later returned to the school with Obotol, handed her the toilet keys and instructed her to dispose of them while warning her to remain silent.
The prosecution has so far presented seven of its 10 planned witnesses.
