Kampala, Uganda: New twisting details have emerged in the investigation into the killing of four toddlers at Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre, with family members of the prime suspect indicating he had a history of mental illness.
Christopher Okello Onyum, who is currently detained at Kabalagala Police Division, is accused of stabbing four children to death at the daycare on Thursday after reportedly posing as a parent seeking to enrol a child. The victims were attacked while playing, in an incident that has sent shockwaves across the country.
The suspect was rescued from an angry mob by a joint team of police and army personnel shortly after the attack.
According to sources close to the investigation, Onyum’s family disclosed that he had previously undergone treatment abroad.
“It’s the father, a resident of Bunga, who told police that they took him to the USA for treatment, and the family didn’t even know he had returned,” said Ggaba LCIII councillor Arnold Kasujja.
Investigators say the suspect is believed to have returned to Uganda in November last year after reportedly receiving treatment in the United States.
Further accounts from local sources suggest a troubled past, although authorities have not officially confirmed these claims.
Councillor Kasujja said some taxi operators familiar with the suspect alleged that he had spoken about visiting a traditional healer who reportedly advised him that ritual sacrifice was the only path to wealth.
There are also unverified reports linking the suspect to an earlier family-related incident in 2017 involving the death of a stepbrother, which sources claim may have influenced the family’s decision to seek treatment abroad. However, police have not confirmed any connection.
Authorities have cautioned against speculation as investigations into the motive behind the attack continue.
On Friday, State Minister for Higher Education Dr John Chrysestom Muyingo visited the scene and ordered the immediate closure of the daycare centre and its sister schools.
Government has since pledged psychosocial support to affected families, staff, and survivors, as security agencies continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding the attack.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
