Christopher Okello Onyum Sentenced to Death For Ggaba Daycare Murders

The High Court in Kampala has sentenced Christopher Okello Onyum to death for the gruesome murder of four toddlers at a Ggaba daycare centre, bringing a dramatic close to a trial that has gripped the nation.

Presiding Judge Alice Komuhangi Khaukha delivered the ultimate penalty on Thursday, April 30, 2026, after finding Okello guilty on all four counts of murder. The victims—Ryan Odeke (1.5 years), Keisha Agenorwoth Otim (2 years), Gideon Eteku (2.5 years), and Ignatius Sseruyange (2.5 years)—were tragically killed at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre on April 2.

In a sweeping judgment that dismantled the defense’s strategy, Justice Komuhangi ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, pointing to overwhelming evidence, including clear CCTV video footage placing the accused at the scene and confirming his identity.

The court found that Okello acted with clear intent and malice aforethought. In her harrowing description of the crime, Justice Komuhangi noted that the accused “butchered the children like goats or chicken,” underscoring the extreme brutality of the attack on defenseless toddlers in a place of supposed safety.

Throughout the trial, the defense, led by lawyer Richard Kumbuga, attempted to argue that Okello was mentally unstable and acting under unidentified external influences at the time of the killings. However, the court systematically rejected this insanity defense.

Justice Komuhangi observed that the burden of proving mental illness lay squarely with the accused, a burden he failed to meet. She highlighted that Okello’s evidence regarding his mental unfitness was unsworn, strategically denying the prosecution the opportunity to cross-examine him.

Furthermore, claims that he had previously been treated at Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital were not corroborated by credible evidence or medical records.

The judge also pointed to Okello’s cognitive functioning during the period of the incident, noting that he possessed a “calculating mind” and was actively able to mentally calculate money, which directly contradicted his claims of total mental distress.

A significant blow to Okello’s defense was the notable absence of his family members from the witness stand. The court reasoned that if Okello had a genuine history of severe mental illness, his closest relatives would have been the most appropriate witnesses to corroborate it.

“If the father and mother are alive, they would have found it important to come and testify and provide evidence of mental illness,” Justice Komuhangi stated. “The accused, who had the opportunity to furnish court with witnesses, never found his own parents as fit witnesses for him. This was unusual.”

Adding to the peculiar nature of the defense’s presentation, courtroom observers were stunned during the lengthy judgment reading when both Okello and his lawyer, Richard Kumbuga, were seen dosing off in the dock—a stark contrast to the gravity of the proceedings unfolding around them.

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Following the formal conviction, the prosecution delivered a powerful and chilling submission demanding the maximum penalty. Quoting the biblical principle of retributive justice, Lead Prosecutor William Muwaganya told the court that the punishment must reflect the sheer horror of the crime: “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and a leg for a leg.”

Muwaganya argued that given the premeditated nature of the murders and the vulnerability of the victims, any sentence short of death would be a miscarriage of justice that would fail the grieving families.

Before handing down the final sentence, Justice Komuhangi offered Okello one last opportunity to address the court, directly asking him why he should not be sentenced to death. Confronted with his fate, Okello broke down in tears and remained entirely speechless for several minutes as a heavy silence fell over the courtroom.

When pressed again on whether he insisted he had nothing to say, Okello simply answered, “Yes.” He made no attempt to ask for leniency, nor did he offer an apology to the grieving families or the Ugandan public.

Concluding that Okello’s actions were “devoid of any humanity” and noting his distinct lack of remorse, Justice Komuhangi officially pronounced the death sentence. The court immediately informed the convict that he has a legal window of exactly 14 days to appeal both the conviction and the sentence.