KAMPALA, Uganda
The High court has sentenced Christopher Okello Onyum to death for the “meticulous” and “barbaric” murder of four toddlers at Gaba Early Childhood Development Centre on April 2, 2026.
The victims are Ryan Odeke, Keisha Agenorwoth Otim, Gideon Eteku, and Ignatius Sseruyange. Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha handed down one of the most severe punishments imposed by a Ugandan court in recent years, ruling that the gravity of the crime placed it firmly within the “rarest of the rare” category, thereby justifying the ultimate penalty.
Defence lawyer Sarah Awelo sought to mitigate the sentence, pointing to Okello’s background. She told court he was a first-time offender from a “broken, dysfunctional family” and suffered from sickle cell anaemia.
She argued that he could still be productive, citing his farming activities in Nwoya district. The judge, however, rejected this line of argument, stating that such factors could not justify the nature of the crime.
“I would find no reason why someone would rise or leave their home in the morning to come and slaughter children who are their safe space at school,” Khaukha stated.
She said she was convinced that the killing of the four children was for ritual purposes.
“Blood sacrifice for young children.” The judge also agreed with the prosecution that the offences fell within the rarest of the rare category.
“The convict must be given a sentence that will not only speak to him. But also, to those friends of his whose identities he refused to disclose. And any other person in this country who believes in sacrificing blood for wealth. Let them know that it is highly risky because they will be found. Like Mr. Okello was found. And they will not escape the long arm of the law.”
Before sentencing, the judge repeatedly invited the convict to speak. Okello, standing in the dock, attempted to remove his mask, held the microphone, and remained silent. He appeared remorseless even as his lawyer pleaded for leniency.
The court granted him another opportunity, but he did not apologise to the parents of the slain children. Justice Khaukha noted that even when prompted, Okello refused to apologise to the grieving families, some of whom collapsed in court.
The prosecution, led by Jonathan Muwaganya, painted a chilling account of the events, describing the daycare as a “sanctuary” turned into a scene of “unimaginable terror.”
The victims, all under the age of three, were attacked with a knife in broad daylight. The state argued that the killings were not a moment of madness but a “well-calculated massacre.”
Muwaganya invoked Biblical justice, citing Exodus and the principle of “life for life,” arguing that those who disregard human life forfeit their own. While the death penalty is no longer mandatory in Uganda, justice Khaukha agreed that the circumstances of the case warranted its application.
She cited several aggravating factors, including the extreme vulnerability of the victims, whom she described as defenceless infants. The judge also pointed to evidence of premeditation, noting that the convict employed “sophisticated technology” and meticulous planning in executing the murders.
She added that the killings were carried out in the presence of other children and caretakers, leaving lasting trauma. However, the defence’s reliance on scripture (“Let the children come to me”) drew boos and jeers from the gallery, prompting the court to call for order.
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