Dokolo accountant accused of triple murder released from prison after seven years
Okello had been on remand since March 2019, accused of setting fire to a house in Barlwala A Village, Inomo sub-county, Kwania district, killing three people.
Emmanuel Okello in the dock on allegation of four counts of murder and arson. He was acquitted after state failed to prove the case. (Credit: Hudson Apunyo)
By Hudson Apunyo
Journalists @New Vision
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LIRA - A Dokolo District Local Government worker has been released after spending seven years in prison. The Monday, September 15, 2025, development followed his acquittal in a high-profile case of triple murder and arson.
Emmanuel Okello, an accountant at Kangai cub-county, had been on remand since March 2019, accused of setting fire to a house in Barlwala A Village, Inomo sub-county, Kwania district, killing three people.
Okello was jointly charged alongside Silvina Abur and her son, Solomon Okwir, who both pleaded guilty to the offences and are serving their sentences. The prosecution had alleged that the trio, acting with malice aforethought, murdered Francis Aloka, his wife Robinah Alango, and their son, Denish Olobo, by burning them inside their house on March 30, 2019.
Unlike his co-accused, Okello denied all charges. The prosecution produced four witnesses, but none conclusively placed him at the crime scene. One testified to having seen him running away, but her evidence was discredited due to a history of personal wrangles with the accused.
In his defence, Okello said he was away on official duty at the time. He told the court he attended a workshop at Dokolo District headquarters during the day, returned to Kangai to finalise a financial report, and later travelled to Lira, where he spent the night at his home in Kirombe North A. The next morning, a neighbour informed him that his farm manager, Francis Aloka, had been burnt to death in Kwania.
Emmanuel Okello (right) and his daughter and another relative, after being set free. (Credit: Hudson Apunyo)
Justice Lawrence Tweyanze agreed with the court assessors that the prosecution had failed to prove its case. He noted that no credible evidence placed Okello at the scene of the crime and faulted the State for failing to prove both murder and arson.
“I agree with the assessors and find the accused not guilty. I therefore acquit him and order that he be set free unless held on other lawful grounds,” Justice Tweyanze ruled.
The ruling brings to a close a case that had kept Okello in detention for seven years, despite what the judge described as insufficient evidence.