A Ugandan court has sentenced a man to death by hanging for the murder of four toddlers at a nursery school in the capital, Kampala, in a case that has drawn national outrage and renewed attention to violent crime involving children.
The High Court found 38-year-old Christopher Okello Onyum guilty of killing the children during an attack on 2 April at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Program. The victims, identified as Eteku Gideon, Keisha Agenorwoth, Sseruyange Ignatius and Odeke Ryan, were all between one and two years old.
According to prosecutors, Onyum entered the daycare facility and fatally stabbed the toddlers using a kitchen knife. The attack sent shockwaves through the local community and across Uganda, with many calling for swift justice.
During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence from 18 witnesses, including forensic experts, eyewitnesses and investigators. DNA analysis linked Onyum to the weapon used in the killings, while CCTV footage traced his movements before and during the attack. Call data records also placed him at the scene.
court rejects insanity defense
Two daycare staff members testified that they witnessed the attack, providing crucial firsthand accounts that supported the prosecution case.
Onyum initially admitted to the killings, reportedly describing them as a “human sacrifice” intended to make him wealthy. However, he later changed his plea to not guilty, arguing that he was suffering from mental illness at the time and could not form the intent to kill.
The defense urged the court to acquit him on grounds of insanity. But in her ruling, Justice Alice Komuhangi Khauka rejected that argument, stating that the accused was mentally sound during the attack.
“He was very sane,” the judge said, adding that the evidence clearly showed deliberate and calculated actions.
She further condemned the nature of the crime, saying the victims were targeted in their most vulnerable state. The court also noted the absence of remorse from the accused throughout the proceedings.
Delivering the judgment at a temporary High Court session held near the scene of the crime, Justice Khauka sentenced Onyum to death, a ruling that was met with reactions from members of the public present in court.
“He targeted them in their defenseless state and went ahead to slaughter them like animals, showing no fear or regard for human life,” the judge said.
Capital punishment remains legal in Uganda, although executions are rarely carried out. The last known execution in the country was recorded in 2005, according to available data.
Onyum, who holds dual Ugandan and U.S. citizenship, has the right to appeal the conviction and sentence within 14 days.
The case has reignited debate over the use of the death penalty in Uganda, as well as broader concerns about child safety and mental health in criminal justice cases.
