Soroti City Member of Parliament Joan Alobo has expressed frustration over the drawn-out legal process surrounding the case of the Jozan Nursery and Primary School arson.
Alobo, who was granted bail on March 12, 2025, after paying a cash bond of UGX 2.5 million, claims that the case is politically motivated and that she is being unfairly targeted.
Today, July 7, 2025, the Soroti representative was among the suspects in the arson case, addressed the press after six more suspects were granted bail by Soroti Chief Magistrate Court.
The suspects, including Solomon Obura, Stephen Okello, Narah Akiror, Juma Ogwel, Sam Idakun, and Mark Obonyo, were arrested following a violent protest that broke out in connection with the murder of a student at the school.
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Speaking after the session, Alobo criticized the legal delays, calling the process a hindrance to her political work.
“This is the sixth time we are appearing, but we have been kept on adjourned. This has put me behind politically because the time I would use to address my constituents is spent in court,” she said.
Alobo questioned the legitimacy of the charges, stating that the case was fabricated.
“We all believe that this is a cooked case. Ninety-nine percent of the people out there know that this is just a political case. Personally, I was not involved, and I believe the boys who were arrested are innocent. There is no evidence to criminalize them, as the alleged witnesses have failed to show up in court,” Alobo added.
The arson charges are linked to violent protests that erupted after a court session related to the murder of Joan Faith Apio, a Primary One pupil at Jozan School, whose body was discovered in the school’s staff latrine on February 5, 2025.
The protest led to accusations of arson, theft, and vandalism, with several individuals arrested in connection to the unrest.
