A court in Kampala, Uganda, has sentenced an Ugandan-American man, Christopher Okello Onyum, to death for the murder of four toddlers at a kindergarten.
The tragic incident occurred on April 2 at a daycare facility, where the attacker stabbed children aged between 15 months and 2½ years. He was arrested while attempting to flee the scene.
During the trial, prosecutors told the court that the suspect claimed he carried out the killings believing it would bring him wealth through “human sacrifice.” Although he initially pleaded not guilty, the court rejected his defence, including claims of insanity.
The judge ruled that the manner in which the attack was carried out showed clear planning and intent, dismissing any suggestion that he was not in control of his actions. She subsequently handed down the death sentence, drawing applause from some members of the public in court.
Testimonies during the trial were deeply disturbing. A staff member at the daycare recounted how she initially thought the attacker was disciplining a child before realizing the severity of the situation. She described seeing one of the victims lying in a pool of blood and the attacker wielding a knife. In an attempt to stop him, she threw a bicycle at him, forcing him to drop another child.
Parents of the victims also gave emotional accounts, describing the last moments they had with their children before dropping them off at the kindergarten, and the shock of later discovering their deaths.
Investigations revealed that the suspect had searched online for schools with young children and violent extremist content, although authorities said it remains unclear whether the attack was linked to any political or religious ideology.
The case has sparked outrage and grief, highlighting concerns over child safety and mental health issues in the region.
