Man stabs four toddlers to death at Kampala Daycare

Kampala, Uganda: Shock and grief have engulfed Kampala after a man armed with knives stormed a daycare centre in Ggaba, Makindye Division, killing four toddlers in a chilling and calculated attack that has left the city reeling.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson ASP Rachael Kawala confirmed that the suspect, identified as Christopher Okello Onyu, has been arrested as investigations into the motive behind the killings continue.

We confirm a tragic incident at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Program School, in Makindye Division, Kampala City, where a male suspect brutally stabbed and killed four juveniles. The suspect has been apprehended, and the motive behind the killings is still under investigation,” she said in a police statement, adding that investigations are ongoing to establish the motive.

The deceased children, all aged between one and two years, have been identified as Odeke Ryan (1½ years), Eteko Gideon (2½ years), Keisha Alungat (2 years) and Ignatius Sseruyange (2½ years).

According to preliminary police findings, the suspect had earlier visited the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Programme seeking admission, and reportedly returned to the facility on the day of the incident, paid admission fees, and was allowed access before launching the deadly attack.

The suspect reportedly disguised himself as a parent and first entered the school offices, where he briefly engaged the administrator. He later stepped outside, locked the gate, and launched a brutal knife attack on the children, stabbing them one after another and killing four on the spot.

As teachers raised the alarm, the suspect attempted to flee but was swiftly apprehended by a security guard attached to a nearby church. Moments later, furious residents stormed the scene and attempted to lynch him.

Police intervened and rescued the suspect, bundling him onto a police pickup truck as tensions escalated. Security personnel, including police and army officers, were forced to fire warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd.

At the time of the attack, 14 children were at the facility. Ten survived and have since been safely handed over to their parents.

The Inspector General of Police, Abas Byakagaba, rushed to the scene shortly after the incident and appealed for calm. “We call upon anyone with information about the suspect to give it to police to aid in investigations,” he said.

The attack has sparked national outrage and renewed concerns about safety at early childhood centres, with many calling for tighter security measures. Authorities say more details will be provided as investigations progress.