Okello Appeals Conviction Over Ggaba Daycare Murders

A man sentenced to death for the murder of four toddlers at a daycare centre in Kampala has appealed against both his conviction and sentence, arguing that the trial court failed to properly assess the evidence and wrongly dismissed his claim of insanity.

Christopher Okello Onyum has filed a notice of appeal before the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn a High Court judgment delivered on April 30 that found him guilty of killing four children at a daycare facility in Ggaba.

Court documents show that Okello is challenging the decision of Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha, who convicted him of the murders of Eteku Gideon, Keisha Agenorwoth Otim, Sseruyange Ignatius and Odeke Ryan.

In his memorandum of appeal dated June 12, the appellant argues that the trial judge reached an erroneous conclusion after failing to properly examine the evidence presented during the trial.

“That the Learned Judge erred in law and fact when she failed to properly evaluate the evidence before her thereby arriving at a wrong conclusion and occasioned a miscarriage of justice,” the appeal states.

Okello also contends that the court improperly rejected medical evidence relating to his mental condition at the time of the killings.

“That the Learned trial Judge erred in law and fact by not properly evaluating the medical evidence regarding the mental status of the Appellant thereby arriving at a wrong decision,” the appeal adds.

He further argues that the death sentence imposed by the High Court was excessive and should either be set aside or reduced.

The appellant is asking the Court of Appeal to quash his conviction, overturn the sentence and order his release.

The case relates to the deaths of four children at a daycare centre in Ggaba on April 2, 2026, a tragedy that drew widespread public attention and condemnation.

While delivering sentence, Justice Komuhangi described the murders as falling within the category of the “rarest of rare” cases and deserving the ultimate punishment.

The judge dismissed the insanity defence, ruling that the medical evidence presented during the trial did not support claims that Okello was suffering from a mental illness when the offences were committed.

“The accused was very sane in April when committing these offences. Therefore, his defence of insanity won’t help him,” she ruled.

In sentencing the convict, the court cited the young age and vulnerability of the victims, the nature of the attack and what it described as a lack of remorse.

Justice Komuhangi also expressed the view that the killings may have been connected to ritual sacrifice, saying she could find no other explanation for an attack on children in a place intended to provide care and protection.

The death sentence was welcomed by relatives of the victims and members of the community who attended the court session in Ggaba, with some applauding the ruling.

The Court of Appeal is expected to schedule a hearing to determine the appeal.