Jozan Nursery school closed after the murder of 6-year-old pupil

Jozan Nursery and Primary School in Soroti City has been closed indefinitely following the tragic and mysterious death of a six-year-old pupil.

Joan Faith Apio’s body was discovered in the school latrine with a deep cut on her neck, just three days after she had been admitted to the boarding section.

The school matron, Osula Adong, recounted her conversation with the deceased’s twin sister, who said she had no idea where her sibling had gone. Their mother, Evelyn Akol, a midwife at Magoro Health Center III, was devastated by the news.

“I regret bringing my child to boarding school; this would not have happened had I kept her at home. I’ve already paid all the school fees, and now I’m receiving the devastating news that my daughter is dead,” Akol lamented.

The incident sparked outrage among parents, with over 700 gathering outside the school gate, demanding access to their children. One of them, Caroline Anyeso, who has three children at the school, called for transparency regarding the circumstances of the tragedy.

“How can a child die at a school that has a fence, a gate, and security guards, and the school is unaware of what happened?” Anyeso questioned angrily.

In response to the growing unrest, Clare Ayipo, the Deputy Soroti Resident City Commissioner (RCC), ordered the school’s closure until further notice. She advised parents to properly identify themselves before retrieving their children.

Meanwhile, authorities have taken five individuals into custody for questioning, including the school director, Joseph Kedi, the headteacher, the school matron, and two teachers. East Kyoga Regional CID officer Collins Keith Karugaba confirmed the arrests and urged parents to remain calm, warning that any attempts to riot could escalate the situation, especially with students still inside the school.

Security forces have assured parents that investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.