The High Court in Kampala has sentenced Christopher Okello Onyum to death after finding him guilty of killing four toddlers in a brutal knife attack.
The conviction followed a fast-tracked trial conducted near the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Center, where the killings happened on April 2.
In her ruling, Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha described the crime as extremely serious, saying the law permits the death penalty in the most severe cases.
She explained that while Uganda’s sentencing guidelines recommend a starting point of 35 years in prison for murder, courts can adjust the punishment depending on the circumstances.
The judge said the sheer brutality of the attack and the vulnerability of the young victims justified the maximum sentence. Okello was found guilty on all counts, including multiple charges of murder.
She also dismissed any attempt to justify the killings based on personal emotions or motives, emphasizing that the judgment is meant to reinforce the rule of law and send a strong warning against such crimes.
According to police, Okello gained access to the daycare by pretending to be a parent looking to enroll a child. Once inside, he carried out the attack and fled the scene. Security officers later fired warning shots to stop an angry crowd that was trying to attack him.
