Christopher Okello Onyum, the man accused of killing four children at a day care centre in Ggaba, Kampala, has opened his defence before the mobile High Court sitting at Ggaba Community Church.
Okello, a 39 year old Ugandan born American, told court on Friday, April 24, that he was not guilty of the four counts of murder against him. He said he did not intentionally cause the deaths of the children and argued that the prosecution had not proved deliberate intent.
The case relates to the deaths of four toddlers at Early Childhood Development Programme Centre in Ggaba on April 2. The children were identified in court records as Gideon Eteku, Keisha Agenrwoth, Ignatius Sseruyange and Ryan Odeke. Okello has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
During his unsworn testimony, Okello told court that he had been going through what he described as a distressing period between January and March. He claimed that some people had been demanding money from him and threatening him, causing him to live in fear and move from place to place.
He also told court that during that period he tried to flee the country, attempted to rob a bank, and tried to harm his brother’s family. He claimed that the pressure he was facing had something to do with his actions on April 2.
Okello further challenged a statement in which he reportedly confessed to the killings, saying he was forced to make it after his arrest. He told court that he was “coerced” to say something acceptable to police at the time.
The accused also raised questions about his mental state at the time of the incident. He said it was possible that signs of mental health challenges had gone undetected and argued that the prosecution should have done more to prove he was fully aware and intentional in his actions.
Okello’s brother also testified as a defence witness, telling court that he had once seen the accused at Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital in 2020, although he did not know the exact circumstances of his admission. The defence asked court to summon doctors from Butabika, but Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha declined to make that order at that stage.
The judge later said even if Okello had been at Butabika in 2020, it would not be directly relevant unless connected to the alleged offence of April 2, 2026. She also noted that the accused had been following the court proceedings.
The trial is continuing as the defence presents its case. The prosecution wants court to convict Okello, while the defence maintains that the evidence does not prove intentional murder.
