The High Court in Uganda sitting at the Ggaba Community Church grounds, has ruled that the prime suspect in the alleged murder of four toddlers at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre on April 2, 2026, Christopher Okello Onyum has a case to answer.
Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha, put Okello on stand and guided him on the next steps as he prepares his defence, after the prosecution closed its case against him on Thursday, the eighth day of the public hearing after it presented 18 witnesses to testify before court and evidence.
“I have evaluated the evidence produced against you and it makes a case against you, requiring you to give your defence on each of the four counts,” Justice Komuhangi ruled.
Justice Komuhangi explained that Okello may choose to give sworn testimony, in which case he will be guided by his lawyers and subjected to cross-examination by the prosecution.
Alternatively, he can opt for an unsworn statement, which is not subject to cross-examination and the third option allows him to remain silent and not present any defence.
While presenting their case, the prosecution arraigned key witness who included the deceased parents, school staff, Okello’s former land lords, car hires and police investigators before court to testify against him.
The prosecution also presented Okello’s alleged confession, the murder weapon, Okello’s belongings, DNA links to the murder weapon, and other forensic and digital evidence during the trial to pin Okello to the four toddler’s murder.
The court has granted Okello access to three of his phones to extract contacts of witnesses for his defence and has submitted four phone numbers to the court.
Okello is charged with four counts of murder, contrary to section 171 and 172 of the penal code act, cap 128.
Prosecution told court that Okello on the second day of April this year at Ggaba Early Childhood Development centre, Ggaba trading zone, Ggaba parish, Makindye Division Kampala district, with malice aforethought unlawfully caused deaths of Eteku Gideon, Keisha Agenoroth, Sseruynage Ignatius, and Odeke Rayan.
