The High Court in Kampala has sentenced Christopher Okello Onyum to death after finding him guilty of the brutal killing of four toddlers at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre on April 2, 2026.
The verdict was delivered by Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha, who ruled that the crime met the threshold of the “rarest of the rare” cases, warranting the maximum punishment under Ugandan law. The judge described the offence as exceptionally cruel, citing the deliberate targeting of children in a place meant to provide safety and early education.
Court proceedings revealed that Onyum used a machete to carry out a premeditated attack inside the daycare facility, killing four pupils: Gideon Eteku, Keisha Agenorwoth Otim, Ignatius Sseruyange, and Ryan Odeke.
Prosecutors told the court that the assault was planned and executed with extreme violence. The court further noted that the convict showed no remorse throughout the trial.
In her ruling, Justice Khaukha said the death sentence was not only a form of retribution but also a deterrent against rising beliefs in “sacrificing blood for wealth.” She warned that such ideologies fuel extreme violence and must be firmly rejected.
The judgment was delivered during a mobile court session held in Ggaba, drawing large crowds and intense public scrutiny. The case has since become one of the most widely followed criminal trials in Uganda in recent years.
Under Ugandan law, Onyum has 14 days to appeal the death sentence.
The ruling has triggered strong and divided reactions across the country. While many have welcomed the sentence as justice for the victims and a deterrent against similar crimes, others have raised concerns over the accused’s reported mental health history and renewed debate over the use of the death penalty.
The case continues to fuel national conversation on child protection, violent crime, mental health, and capital punishment in Uganda.
