KAMPALA — The High Court has ruled that Christopher Okello Onyum has a case to answer in the alleged murder of four children in Ggaba, following the close of the prosecution’s case.
The decision, delivered during a highly publicised hearing, means the accused will now be required to present his defence in a trial that has gripped the nation and drawn widespread attention.
Okello is accused of killing four toddlers in a brutal attack at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre on April 2, 2026 — an incident that shocked the country and triggered public outrage.
Prosecution witnesses have, over the course of the trial, presented detailed testimony linking the accused to the crime, including accounts from daycare staff and law enforcement officers. In earlier proceedings, a police officer told court that the suspect allegedly confessed to the killings shortly after his arrest.
The trial itself has been conducted under Uganda’s controversial mobile court system, with proceedings held near the crime scene to allow public access — a move that has sparked both support and criticism from legal observers.
Okello, who has consistently denied the charges, previously entered a plea of not guilty to four counts of murder and could face the death penalty if convicted.
With the court now determining that there is sufficient evidence requiring an explanation, the case proceeds to the defence stage, marking a critical turning point in one of Uganda’s most closely watched criminal trials.
