The Soroti Chief Magistrate’s Court has dismissed a high-profile case in which Soroti City Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Joan Alobo Acom, and twelve co-accused had been charged with multiple offenses, including arson, malicious damage, housebreaking, theft, and incitement to violence, all related to the destruction of property at Jozan Nursery and Primary School in March this year.
Delivering her ruling on Monday Morning, Chief Magistrate Hilda Bakanansa Walaga dismissed the charges citing want of prosecution, a legal term used when the state fails to pursue a case with diligence.
The ruling effectively brings to an end a five-month legal battle that had attracted wide public attention in Soroti and across the Teso sub-region.
The case, which was instituted in March 2025, involved 13 individuals, among them Hon. Alobo and several young residents of Soroti.
The accused persons included: Osege Joseph (22), Obura Solomon (23), Egumu Joseph, Okiror Emmanuel, Odongo James (29), Okello Stephen, Akiror Norah (31), Ogwel Juma (20), Olipa Moses (25), Idakun Sam (21), Okol Joseph (18), MP Joan Alobo Acom, and Obonyo Mark.
According to the prosecution led by Chief State Attorney Paul Okello, the group had been accused of:
- Arson – willfully setting fire to school property belonging to Jozan Nursery and Primary School, contrary to Sections 314 (19)(b) and (c) of the Penal Code Act.
- Malicious Damage to Property – contrary to Section 312 of the Penal Code Act, with claims they destroyed furniture, books, chalk, fencing, and other materials essential for the school’s daily operations.
- Housebreaking and Theft – under Sections 277, 237, and 244, alleging that they broke into school buildings and stole mattresses, beds, windows, doors, metallic boxes, tables, and food items such as maize flour, all valued at around UGX 5 million.
- Incitement to Violence – specifically against MP Alobo, who was accused of inciting residents to destroy the school in her capacity as a public leader.
The charges stemmed from events of March 6–7, 2025, when angry residents stormed Jozan Nursery and Primary School following the brutal murder of five-year-old pupil, Joan Faith Apio, whose body was found in a school latrine.
The gruesome discovery triggered mass outrage across Soroti, leading to violent demonstrations, destruction of school property, and mass arrests.
For months, the case lingered without significant progress.
Despite repeated adjournments, the prosecution reportedly failed to present sufficient evidence or call witnesses to sustain the charges.
In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Walaga noted that the accused had “faithfully complied” with all court requirements, including attending hearings and fulfilling stringent bail conditions, while the state consistently failed to pursue the matter.
“The court cannot continue to inconvenience the accused persons, some of whom are leaders and breadwinners, by subjecting them to endless appearances without progress in the trial. In the absence of diligent prosecution, this case is hereby dismissed, and all bail deposits refunded,” Walaga ruled.
Speaking to the media moments after the ruling, Mr. Edmund Elasu, one of the defense lawyers, welcomed the decision as a victory for justice.
“The Chief Magistrate’s Court of Soroti has today dismissed a case in which Hon. Alobo and twelve others were accused of crimes they did not commit. For five months and eight days, our clients complied with all court orders, yet the prosecution failed to present any evidence. This was not only an injustice but also a burden on their time and resources,” Elasu said.
He emphasized that the charges against the accused were exaggerated and, in some instances, “ridiculous.”
“How can anyone reasonably believe that an elected Member of Parliament, entrusted with the voice of the people, could be stealing mattresses, soda, and maize flour? These allegations were not only defamatory but also politically motivated to tarnish her image,” Elasu added.
The dismissal of the case cannot be understood without examining the broader context of unrest in Soroti earlier this year.
On March 7, 2025, Hon. Alobo, joined by opposition leaders including FDC President Eng. Patrick Amuriat Oboi and Hon. Jonathan Ebwalu, MP for Soroti West, organized a demonstration under the slogan “No Cow, No Vote.”
The protest sought to pressure government into addressing long-standing demands for cattle compensation in Teso, a matter that has aggrieved communities since the insurgencies of the 1980s and 1990s.
Coinciding with the protest was the tragic killing of Apio Joan Faith, a pupil of Jozan Nursery and Primary School.
Her murder, allegedly involving staff members of the same school, ignited fury within the local population.
Community members accused the police and school administration of mishandling the case, leading to a spontaneous outburst of violence targeting the school.
It was in this chaotic environment that MP Alobo and her co-accused were arrested and charged.
In her first public remarks following the dismissal, Hon. Joan Alobo expressed relief and gratitude, hailing the decision as both personal and collective vindication.
“I am glad that today the judicial system in our country has proved that justice works under the law. This is not just justice for me as an individual, but for the people of Soroti City and Uganda at large,” she told journalists at Steron Walls Hotel in Soroti City.
She stressed that the dismissal frees her to fully focus on parliamentary duties, which had been disrupted by constant court appearances.
“For months, this case weighed me down. I could not fully serve my constituency because I was always traveling back for hearings. My opponents thought this case would end my political career, but God has vindicated me,” she said, her voice firm with conviction.
Alobo vowed to continue championing justice for the late pupil Apio Joan and to push for accountability in the education and security sectors.
“This case may be closed, but the murder of young Apio remains unresolved. The people of Soroti still demand answers, and I will not relent until justice is served for that innocent child,” she added.
The dismissal of the case carries significant political weight in Teso sub-region, where Alobo is a rising opposition figure.
The charges, seen by many of her supporters as politically motivated, had threatened to derail her activism on issues such as cattle compensation, youth unemployment, and poor urban infrastructure.
With her legal battles behind her, analysts suggest Alobo could now consolidate her political base ahead of the 2026 elections.
Patrick Aisu, a political analyst in Soroti City, noted: “Cases like this often serve as a litmus test for politicians. For Hon. Alobo, coming out acquitted strengthens her narrative as a victim of political persecution and could rally more grassroots support in Soroti and beyond.”
However, critics argue that while she may have been legally cleared, the association with violent demonstrations may haunt her in future campaigns, especially among conservative voters who prefer stability over confrontation.
Pauline Akiror, a vendor in Soroti, told reporters: “We knew from the start that these were false charges. They wanted to silence her because she speaks the truth. Today, God has fought for her.”
Others, however, called for calm and urged leaders to avoid actions that could fuel unnecessary conflict in the community.
The case highlights broader questions about Uganda’s judicial process, the role of prosecution in politically sensitive cases, and the balance between public demonstrations and law and order.
By dismissing the charges, the Soroti Chief Magistrate has sent a signal about the responsibility of state prosecutors to diligently pursue cases.
The ruling also reinforces the principle that political leaders cannot be held indefinitely under unproven allegations.
At the same time, the unresolved murder of Apio Joan remains a painful reminder of the fragility of justice in cases involving vulnerable groups such as children.
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