Government Probes Ggaba Suspect Christopher Onyum Over 2018 Infant Death

The Government of Uganda has directed the police to launch a fresh investigation into allegations linking Christopher Okello Onyum, the lead suspect in the Ggaba daycare killings, to a previous infant death. State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon. Balaam Barugahare, has called for this probe following a public testimony from a woman claiming to be the mother of an earlier victim.

During a recent interview, the woman alleged that in late 2018 or early 2019, Onyum was involved in the death of her 15-month-old son, identified as Newman. The mother claimed that while she was married to the suspect’s father, she returned home to find her child had been strangled and suffocated. According to her account, Onyum fled to the United States shortly after the incident, which hindered legal proceedings at the time.

Minister Barugahare has urged the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) to handle these new claims with the utmost urgency and transparency. He has requested anyone with contact information for the grieving mother to come forward so that she can record a formal statement with CID Director Tom Magambo at the Kibuli headquarters.

“The truth will be known and justice will be served,” the Minister stated today, emphasizing the government’s commitment to exploring every aspect of the suspect’s background to ensure accountability for any past crimes.

This development significantly expands the ongoing inquiry into the tragedy at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre, where four toddlers were killed last week. Investigators are now tasked with cross-referencing the 2018 allegations with the suspect’s travel records and medical history, which reportedly includes a period of psychiatric treatment in the United States.

Police have not yet officially confirmed the details of the 2018 incident, but the Minister’s directive ensures that it will now be a central component of the broader investigation. The woman involved has shared that she is seeking closure, expressing hope that the suspect’s current detention will finally lead to the justice that was delayed years ago.

The Ministry of Education and Sports continues to monitor the situation, with schools in the affected area remaining under strict review. Minister Barugahare’s intervention highlights a renewed government focus on identifying warning signs and addressing gaps in the legal system that may have allowed previous incidents to go unpunished.