news 3 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Heartbreak in Ggaba: Parents Mourn Toddlers Slain in Daycare Knife Rampage
Four young children were killed in a brutal knife attack at a Ggaba early learning centre near Kampala, leaving parents in anguish as police secured the scene and arrested the suspect. The assailant, who posed as a prospective parent, stabbed the victims before being overpowered by staff and locals. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/voices-of-grief-at-gaba-what-wrong-did-our-children-do--5412016
A tragic knife attack at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Programme on the outskirts of Kampala claimed the lives of four toddlers on April 2, 2026. The incident unfolded around midday, turning the school into a grim crime scene under the blazing sun.
Simon Okurut stood helplessly more than 50 yards away, pleading with police to reach his motionless two-year-old son, Ryan Odeke, covered on the veranda. Officers, including Inspector General Abas Byakagaba, cordoned off the area for investigations, photographing the scene and measuring distances amid mounting parental distress.
The 34-year-old suspect, Christopher Okello from Nwoya District, had visited the school two days prior pretending to enroll a child. On the day of the attack, he paid initial fees of Shs180,000 before pulling out concealed knives and stabbing Ryan Odeke, followed by Kaise Alungat (2), Gideon Eteku (2), and Ignatius Sserwange (3). The last three succumbed to injuries at Wentz Medical Centre.
A school worker raised the alarm and wrestled the assailant, disarming him during a scuffle. He tried to flee over the fence but was caught by nearby school security and residents, who alerted police. Carrying four knives, including two new professional kitchen blades left at the scene, Okello was detained as fury erupted.
Grieving residents demanded mob justice, blocking roads with boulders and garbage, but police reinforcements whisked him away. Parents from nearby schools rushed to check on their children, with some briefly arrested amid the chaos. Forensic work wrapped up by 3pm, allowing reunions tinged with joy for survivors and despair for the bereaved.
School legal rep Stanley Oketch offered condolences, assuring families of a police probe. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala confirmed the suspect’s ruse. Motive remains unknown as investigations continue.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)