Okello Convicted of Ggaba Daycare Murders, Awaits Sentencing

The High Court has convicted Christopher Okello Onyum of murdering four children at a daycare centre in Ggaba, after Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

In her judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Komuhangi dismissed the accused’s insanity defence, stating that Okello failed to provide credible evidence of mental illness. She noted that his testimony was unsworn, denying the prosecution an opportunity to cross-examine him, and that he did not call any witnesses — including his own parents — to support his claims.

“If the father and mother are alive, they would have found it important to come and testify and provide evidence of mental illness. The accused who had the opportunity to furnish court with witnesses, never found his own parents as fit witnesses for him. This was unusual,” Justice Komuhangi observed.

On the question of intent, the judge ruled that the nature of the attack demonstrated clear malice aforethought. “There is no way there is no malice aforethought,” she said, adding that the accused “butchered the children like goats or chicken.”

The court also addressed the defence’s argument regarding the absence of first responders from the trial. Justice Komuhangi acknowledged that their testimony would have strengthened the case but concluded that it did not undermine the overall weight of the prosecution’s evidence, which included video footage in which Okello was clearly identifiable.

Okello was found guilty on all four counts of murder. Sentencing will be delivered at a later today.