The High Court has adjourned proceedings in the murder case against Christopher Okello Onyum, the prime suspect in the Ggaba school children killings, with a ruling expected on Thursday.
Presiding Judge Alice Komuhangi Khaukha deferred the matter after the conclusion of submissions, leaving the nation in suspense over the verdict and possible sentence following two weeks of court proceedings.
On Tuesday, the prosecution, led by Jonathan Muwaganya, closed its case and urged court to find Onyum guilty on all four counts of murder. The state argued that the evidence presented proves beyond reasonable doubt that Onyum was responsible for the deaths.
In his defence last week, Okello asked court to dismiss the charges, arguing that the prosecution had failed to prove intent in the deaths of the four toddlers.
Taking the stand on Friday, Okello denied responsibility for the alleged murders, maintaining that his actions were not deliberate.
He told court that it should reject the prosecution’s request for a conviction on the four counts, insisting that circumstances beyond his control influenced his actions.
“I believe I am not guilty of the four charges. What happened was not intentional, and I did not set out to cause the death of the four children,” Okello said.
He also dismissed claims by the prosecution that he confessed to the killings with full knowledge of the consequences.
“I did not murder the four children. Whatever happened was not intentional. There were factors that compelled me to act the way I did. I did not act willingly,” he told court.
Earlier, ASP Harelimana Bernabas, a forensic biologist attached to the Directorate of Forensic Services, presented findings from 40 exhibits recovered from the crime scene.
The exhibits included clothing allegedly worn by the suspect, the suspected murder weapon, and other items subjected to forensic analysis.
Harelimana told court that DNA analysis conducted on a knife recovered from the scene revealed the presence of a male DNA profile matching Okello.
“Okello Christopher Onyum is the source of the DNA obtained from several exhibits, including bloodstains found on different parts of the shirt, specifically the right arm, wrist area, shoulder and collar,” Harelimana testified.
He further informed court that a black kitchen knife with a black and silver handle, recovered outside a school fence, also contained Okello’s DNA profile on its handle.
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 indicate that the suspect had earlier visited the facility seeking admission for his child and was advised to return later. He reportedly came back, 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.
