EDITOR
Christopher Okello Onyum has been sentenced to death by hanging for the brutal murder of four toddlers at a nursery school in Kampala earlier this month.
The 38-year-old, who holds both Ugandan and United States citizenship, was convicted for the killings that occurred on April 2 at Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre. The victims Eteku Gideon, Keisha Agenorwoth, Sseruyange Ignatius, and Odeke Ryan were all aged between one and two years.
Court heard that Onyum entered the nursery and fatally stabbed the children using a kitchen knife. Prosecutors told court that he had initially admitted to committing the crime, describing it as a “human sacrifice” intended to make him rich. However, he later changed his plea to not guilty, claiming he was mentally ill at the time and incapable of forming intent to kill.
Delivering judgment, Justice Alice Komuhangi Khauka ruled that Onyum was “very sane” on the day of the attack and therefore fully responsible for his actions.
The prosecution presented 18 witnesses, supported by forensic, digital, and eyewitness evidence. DNA analysis linked Onyum to the murder weapon, while CCTV footage tracked his movements before the attack. Call data also placed him at the scene, and two daycare staff testified that they witnessed the killings.
Although Uganda retains the death penalty, executions are rarely carried out, with the last recorded execution taking place in 2005.
Onyum has 14 days to appeal the sentence.
