Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre murder suspect Christopher Okello Onyum is of sound mind but has a medical history of sickle cell disease, court has heard.
Testifying before court, Dr. Charles Kajoba from Murchison Bay Upper Prison said the accused has a known history of sickle cell but is currently in a stable mental condition and fit to stand trial.
“He has a history of sickle cell disease. He was treated and is now in a good state of mind,” Dr. Kajoba told court.
Court also heard testimony from a landlord who rented out an apartment to the accused at Kyanja, Katumba village, describing the circumstances under which he came into contact with him.
The witness told court that Okello initially claimed he was living in the United States before later saying he was staying in Ggaba. He said the suspect was introduced through local channels, although he could not recall the name of the chairperson involved in the introduction.
According to the testimony, the tenancy agreement was signed on March 16, 2026, allowing Okello to occupy the house.
However, the witness said he was later alerted by village defence authorities following the alleged incident in Ggaba.
“He told me that he had killed children at a certain school in Ggaba. He asked me to go to the house and bring the spare keys. When I arrived, police were already at the house and Okello was handcuffed,” the witness told court.
The landlord further testified that the suspect had earlier claimed he had lost the house keys, prompting police to accompany him during the search of the premises.
During the search, police reportedly recovered two laptops, a flash disk, files containing documents, knives, two mobile phones and two American passports. The items were documented and taken as exhibits.
The house was later sealed off and the suspect taken into custody.
However, defence lawyers objected to the tenancy agreement being relied upon in court, arguing that the witness was neither the author nor a signatory to the document and was therefore not competent to testify on its validity.
Court is expected to continue hearing the matter as the prosecution builds its case against Okello Onyum, who faces multiple charges arising from the alleged killings at Ggaba.
Prosecutors allege that on April 2, 2026, at Ggaba Trading Centre in Makindye Division, Kampala, Onyum, with malice aforethought, caused the deaths of four children identified as Eteku Gideon, Keisha Agenorwoth Otim, Sseruyange Ignitius and Odeke Ryan.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect had earlier visited the facility seeking admission for his child and was advised to return later. He reportedly returned, paid the required fees, and shortly afterwards allegedly carried out the attack.
The victims were aged between 18 months and two and a half years.
