Ggaba– The High Court has convicted 39-year-old Okello Onyum for the brutal murder of three toddlers at Ggaba Early Childhood Center, bringing a significant development in a case that has drawn widespread public attention.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Alice Khaukha Komuhangi ruled that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Okello deliberately planned and executed the killings. Court heard that the accused initially visited the school, where he is believed to have conceived the attack, before returning later to carry it out.
In its judgment, the court dismissed Okello’s claims of mental illness, noting that no credible medical evidence was presented to support the assertion. Testimony from Dr. Emmanuel Niwagaba, who examined the accused, indicated that Okello had previously been assessed at Butabika Hospital and was found to be of normal behavior, calm, and mentally stable, with intact memory. The doctor further revealed that Okello held beliefs in ritual sacrifice as a means of acquiring wealth.
Justice Komuhangi emphasized that Okello’s conduct before and after the incident demonstrated awareness and intent, undermining any defense of insanity.
Postmortem findings presented in court showed that the three toddlers died from hypovolemic shock following severe neck injuries that severed the internal jugular veins.
Prosecution, led by Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya, urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, arguing that the gravity of the crime places it among the “rarest of the rare” and warrants the harshest possible punishment, including consideration of the death penalty.
The trial attracted large crowds throughout its proceedings, with members of the public attending for various reasons, including seeking justice for the victims and witnessing the outcome of one of the most disturbing cases in recent memory.
Keywords: Okello Onyum, Ggaba murder, High Court Uganda, Alice Khaukha Komuhangi, toddler killings, hypovolemic shock, Butabika Hospital, Jonathan Muwaganya, death penalty, criminal conviction, Uganda judiciary
