Soroti, Uganda | The Soroti Chief Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to ten of the twelve individuals accused of setting fire to Jozan Nursery and Primary School, a community school in Soroti City East Division.
Despite the ruling, the suspects remain in custody as their release is contingent upon the payment of a one million shillings bail fee per person an amount their legal team and families are now struggling to raise.
The suspects, who have been on remand since April, were charged alongside Soroti City Woman MP Joan Alobo Achom, who was granted bail earlier in the case.
The court, however, denied bail to two other individuals, citing inadequacies in the documents submitted to support their application.
Presiding Magistrate His Worship Apollo Kibirige Kasujja delivered the ruling Thursday morning, setting bail at 10 million shillings in total for the ten accused.
The case has been adjourned to June 23, 2025.
Defense lawyer Okot Bitek Moses Junior welcomed the bail decision but raised concern over the economic hardship facing the suspects.
He emphasized that many of them come from low-income backgrounds and may not afford the bail without external support.
Okot Bitek noted that the court had fulfilled its role, and it was now up to the community to take action to secure the release of the detained individuals.
He emphasized that one million shillings is a heavy burden for most of the affected families and appealed to well-wishers and civil society organizations for urgent support.
The prosecution alleges that the group was involved in a coordinated act that led to the setting fire to Jozan Nursery and Primary School, which was completely destroyed.
The defense maintains that the accused pose no flight risk and have complied with all requirements for bail under the law.
The case continues to draw widespread attention from civil society, legal observers, and the public – many of whom are calling for a fair, timely, and transparent judicial process.