Uganda to Launch First Mobile High Court for Ggaba Toddler Trial

In a groundbreaking shift for Uganda’s justice system, the Judiciary is finalizing preparations to launch its first-ever Mobile High Court session in Kampala, scheduled to commence on Monday, April 13, 2026. By planning to take the courtroom directly to the affected community, authorities hope to deliver transparent and expedited justice in the deeply emotional Ggaba toddler killings case.

The historic proceedings are set to be held at the Ggaba Community Church grounds in Wakiso District, allowing the trial to unfold just steps away from where the tragedy occurred.

The introduction of this upcoming mobile session follows the recent issuance of the Constitution (Operation of Mobile Courts) (Practice) Directions, 2026—Legal Notice No. 1 of 2026 by the Chief Justice. This new legal framework empowers courts to operate outside traditional brick-and-mortar buildings to fast-track matters of immense public interest and bring judicial services closer to the grassroots.

To ensure readiness, Samuel Twakyire, the Deputy Registrar of the Criminal Division, chaired an extensive on-site preparatory meeting in Ggaba on Friday. The session brought together the Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, local leaders, and Judiciary stakeholders to map out the final operational logistics ahead of Monday’s sitting.

The inaugural mobile session will tackle one of the most closely watched cases of the year. Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha is slated to preside over the trial of Christopher Okello Onyum, who will be facing four counts of murder stemming from the horrific Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre attack.

Given the intense public anger and grief surrounding the loss of the four toddlers, security considerations heavily influenced the venue choice. Following inspections of several locations, authorities selected the Ggaba Community Church grounds for their ability to accommodate a highly controlled perimeter.

To maintain order during the highly sensitive hearings next week, the Judiciary will enforce a categorized, controlled-access system for physical attendance. Access to the grounds will be strictly limited to:

• Immediate families of the victims

• Court and security officials

• Accredited media personnel

• Designated religious and local community leaders

However, to ensure the broader public is not shut out of the accountability process, the Judiciary has committed to livestreaming the entire trial across its official social media platforms as it happens.

This upcoming Mobile High Court initiative marks a bold step in the Judiciary’s ongoing reform agenda, emphasizing that justice must not only be done, but must be visibly seen to be done within the communities that need it most.