A Ugandan-born American citizen, Christopher Okello Onuum, has been sentenced to death after being convicted of murdering four toddlers in a brutal attack at a daycare centre in Kampala.

The incident, widely known as the Ggaba daycare killings, occurred on April 2, 2026, at an early childhood development centre in the Ggaba suburb of the Ugandan capital.

According to court proceedings, Onuum gained entry to the facility by posing as a prospective parent seeking to enroll a child. Once inside, he reportedly secured the premises before launching a knife attack on the children. The victims, aged between 15 months and three years, all died from their injuries.

Onuum was apprehended at the scene by a security guard and narrowly escaped mob justice after an angry crowd gathered. Police intervened and took him into custody.

The case drew widespread public attention across Uganda. During the trial, prosecutors presented CCTV footage, DNA evidence, and call records linking the accused to the crime. Investigators also testified that searches recovered from his electronic devices included references to nearby schools and violent material.

The court further heard that Onuum allegedly confessed to carrying out the killings as part of a ritual he believed would bring him wealth.

In a ruling delivered on April 30, 2026, Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha found him guilty on four counts of murder. The judge dismissed the defense’s claims of insanity, citing evidence that the attack was deliberate and premeditated.

On May 2, 2026, the court sentenced him to death.

The case has reignited national debate over violent crime, mental health considerations, and the application of capital punishment in Uganda.