Uganda Court Sentences Man to Death for Killing Four Toddlers in School Attack

A Ugandan court has sentenced a 39-year-old man to death for the killing of four young children in a brutal attack at a nursery school in Kampala, a case that has shocked the nation and raised concerns over school safety.

The convict, Christopher Okello Onyum, was found guilty of murdering the toddlers; aged between two and three, during an attack that took place on April 2 in the capital, Kampala.

According to court proceedings, Onyum stabbed the children in an assault that lasted only a few minutes before he was subdued by a security guard at the scene. The incident sparked public outrage, with angry residents reportedly attempting to attack him before authorities intervened.

Presiding judge Alice Komuhangi Khaukha ruled that the killings were premeditated, citing evidence from the suspect’s phone and computer, including disturbing online searches such as “schools near me” and references to extremist violence.

Onyum had pleaded not guilty, with his defense arguing that he suffered from mental illness and should not be held criminally responsible. However, the court rejected the insanity plea, stating that the level of planning involved demonstrated clear intent.

The case has reignited debate over the death penalty in Uganda, where capital punishment remains legal for serious crimes such as murder, although executions have not been carried out in nearly two decades.

Authorities say the tragedy has prompted renewed calls for tighter security measures in schools across the country, as communities continue to grapple with the shock of the attack.