Written By | Peter Luzinda
IN THE DOCK: Christopher Okello Onyum, accused of murdering four toddlers
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KAMPALA
A heavy atmosphere of grief and tension descended on Ggaba on Monday as the High Court trial of Christopher Okello Onyum, accused of murdering four toddlers, opened in a rare public session at the Ggaba Community Church grounds. Presided over by Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha, the proceedings drew hundreds of residents, many still reeling from the horrific killings that shocked the nation earlier this month.
Okello, 38, who faces four counts of murder under the Penal Code Act (Cap 128), calmly entered a not guilty plea when the charges were read to him.
“Yes, My Lord, I understand the charges… I plead not guilty,” he told the court in a silent, emotionally charged atmosphere.
The charges relate to the brutal stabbing deaths of four children — Eteku Gideon (also reported as Rayan Eteku), Keisha Agenoroth (Agenorwoth Otim), Sseruyange Ignatius, and Odeke Rayan — on April 2, 2026, at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre in Makindye Division. The victims were aged between one and three years old.
Prosecutors allege the killings were not random but carefully planned. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) says it will present evidence showing Okello deliberately gained access to the centre and carried out the attack with premeditation.
“The court will hear how the accused engaged in calculated actions leading up to the tragic events,” prosecution sources indicated before the hearing.
The decision to hold the trial in the community — described as the first mobile High Court session of its kind — came after intense public pressure for transparency and following directives from President Yoweri Museveni to fast-track the case and allow residents to witness justice being served.
One of the slain child
Emotions ran high inside the temporary courtroom. Some parents wept openly while others sat in visible anguish as the gruesome details of the charges were read. The close proximity of the accused to the victims’ families added to the palpable tension.
Outside, heavy security was deployed with checkpoints and restricted movement to prevent any unrest. Residents had earlier attempted to attack the suspect immediately after the killings.
Legal analysts say the not guilty plea paves the way for a full trial, placing the burden on the prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Okello committed the murders with intent.
The trial is expected to continue this week, with several witnesses lined up to testify. For the bereaved families and the wider Ggaba community, the proceedings mark a painful but essential step toward closure and accountability.
Torch Media Africa
