KAMPALA, Uganda — A Ugandan man accused of killing four young children in a brutal attack at a kindergarten in Kampala has pleaded not guilty, as his trial opened in a case that has shocked the nation.
Christopher Okello Onyum faces four counts of murder over the April 2 attack at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre, where children aged between 15 months and two and a half years were fatally stabbed.
Prosecutors previously told the court that Onyum confessed to the killings, allegedly claiming the act was intended as a “human sacrifice” to gain wealth, an assertion that has intensified public outrage and renewed debate over ritual-related crimes in Uganda.
The accused, who was arrested while attempting to flee the scene, denied all charges at the start of proceedings on Monday.
The court, convened in specially erected tents to accommodate public interest, heard harrowing testimony from a staff member who witnessed the attack.
“At first I thought he was beating a child, when I asked him why he was beating our children, before he responded I saw Kaisha (one of the victims) against a wall in the pool of blood,” she said.
“He got up and he had a knife in his hand, he was so quick that he immediately grabbed another child. I got one of the bicycles the children used, I threw it at him.
“When I threw the bicycle at him he left the child and started running after me. I ran but I later fell down. When I got up I found out he had cut the second child.”
Parents of the victims also testified, recounting their final moments with their children and the shock of receiving news of the attack.
One parent, Stella Apolot, mother of one of the victims, fainted shortly after giving evidence, underscoring the emotional toll the case continues to take on families and the wider community.
The case has reignited longstanding concerns about ritual killings in Uganda, where isolated incidents linked to beliefs in wealth acquisition through sacrifice have periodically drawn national attention.
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Authorities and child protection organisations have in recent years stepped up public awareness campaigns, warning against such practices and urging communities to report suspicious activity.
Legal experts note that the trial is likely to attract sustained public scrutiny, not only because of the age of the victims but also due to the alleged motive, which touches on deeply sensitive cultural and criminal issues.
The hearing was adjourned until Wednesday, with further testimony expected as the prosecution continues to present its case.
If convicted, Onyum could face the maximum penalty under Ugandan law.
