Ggaba Toddler Murders: Christopher Onyum Convicted on All Four Counts

A High Court judge in Uganda has delivered a guilty verdict against Christopher Okello Onyum for the horrific killings of four young children at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre.

Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha announced the decision today in a mobile court session held close to the crime location. She found Onyum guilty on all four counts related to the April 2, 2026, murders of toddlers Ryan Odeke, Keisha Agenorwoth Otim, Gideon Eteku, and Ignatius Sseruyange, who were all under two years old.

The judge dismissed Onyum’s claims of insanity and spiritual possession, pointing out the absence of any medical proof or psychiatric expert testimony. His defense rested only on an unsworn statement, which lacked credibility.

Prosecutors, headed by chief state attorney Jonathan Muwaganya, called 18 witnesses to demonstrate Onyum’s full mental capacity. Evidence showed he was handling multiple bank accounts, making transactions in Ugandan shillings and US dollars, and pursuing investments like leasing land in Nwoya for farming around the time of the crime.

Digital forensics uncovered searches on beheadings and daycare centers, plus a flash disk with The Art of War by Sun Tzu, indicating premeditation. The court rejected Onyum’s allegation of a coerced confession admitting ritual motives for wealth.

Justice Komuhangi highlighted that someone managing complex finances could not plausibly claim a mental blackout during such deliberate acts.

The session paused briefly after the verdict, with sentencing to follow soon. Prosecutors are pushing for the harshest punishment given the victims’ vulnerability and the crime’s brutality. Ggaba parents and locals watched anxiously outside the court.

Source: The Observer (Uganda)