Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Jane Francis Abodo, has withdrawn murder charges against Mary Aketch Banedate Olokojo, head teacher of Rock View School.

The charges were withdrawn by magistrate Eleijah Iradukunda at the first instance magistrate court in Tororo on Thursday after the case was brought forward.

State Prosecutor Harriet Angom filed the withdrawal form dated October 24, 2024, written by Abodo to the Magistrate Court in Tororo, resulting in the withdrawal of the charges against the suspect.

The presiding judge decided to release the suspect as long as he is not held on other legal charges.

“This is to inform the Court that the DPP has decided to stay the case against Mary Aketch Bernadete Olokojo, Regina Auma, Promise Owamukama and Sister Prudence Nankunda, who are accused of murder,” the court said.

Before withdrawing the charges, the judge explained to the court that the Constitution of Uganda gives the DPP the power to withdraw charges against any suspect without giving the reason for his decision.

Aketch and three others were accused of murdering her husband, a former head teacher of St Peter’s College Tororo.

Joseph Olokojo was set on fire by unknown assailants in a shocking act of violence at his home in Ogola Village, Tororo town, on August 14, 2024.

Through intelligence, the police arrested the wife, who was among the key suspects in the murder case, and produced them before the first instance court in Tororo; The suspects were subsequently sent to Morukatipe Prisons Tororo.