Justice Katamba agreed with the court assessors that the prosecution had not proved its case against the accused persons beyond the required standard.
The High Court in Masaka has acquitted Alex Mugarura and Edison Niyo of all 48 charges arising from the 2018 fire at St Bernard Secondary School located in Manya village, Rakai District that claimed the lives of 10 students.
The two have been facing 48 charges including murder, arson and attempted murder in connection with the fire that gutted a school dormitory.
In her judgment, Justice Victoria Nakintu Katamba ordered the immediate release of Mugarura and Niyo, after finding that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence linking them to the offences.
Justice Katamba agreed with the court assessors that the prosecution had not proved its case against the accused persons beyond the required standard.
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The acquittal brings to an end the case in which the two men faced a total of 48 counts arising from the deadly school fire.
The fire at St Bernard Secondary School in Rakai in 2018 resulted in the deaths of 10 students and prompted investigations and prosecution over the circumstances surrounding the incident.
With the High Court’s decision, Mugarura and Niyo have been cleared of all the charges against them and are to be released immediately, unless held on other lawful grounds.
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