Ggaba daycare killings: Street boy tells court Okello asked him to mobilize children

street child, testifying as a defence witness in the ongoing Ggaba daycare murder trial, told court that accused Christopher Okello Onyum asked him to help mobilise other children, in testimony that added a new layer to the case.

The minor, whose identity was withheld under court-ordered protection, appeared as Defence Witness Two and testified under strict conditions barring the publication of his name or image.

Led in evidence by defence lawyer Mr Richard Kumbuga, the witness said he first met Okello in February 2026 while living on the streets with a group of more than 40 children.

“I am a street kid. I was with my friends… we saw him passing and asked him to buy us water,” the witness told court.

According to his testimony, Okello instead offered to buy them food and directed them to a nearby vendor.

“He told us we should eat food… we talked to the lady and I sorted out the children. He came and paid for the food and we all ate,” he said.

The witness told court that after the meal, Okello singled him out for a conversation and made an unusual request.

“He told me he wanted to talk to me and asked for my phone number. He said whenever he came and didn’t find me, he would call me to help him sort out other children,” the witness said.

He added that Okello asked him to save his contact under the name “Christopher” while he saved the witness’s number as “Sande.”

The following day, the witness said Okello returned carrying a 10-litre jerrycan and again bought food for the children.

“I later came to see him again on the news,” he added.

During cross-examination, Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya pressed the witness on details of the encounter.

He confirmed meeting Okello on February 19, 2026, and said the children he was asked to organise were aged between seven and ten years, including those his own age.

Asked whether he knew Okello’s whereabouts after that date, the witness replied: “I don’t know.”

Following the testimony, the defence sought an adjournment to trace two additional witnesses, citing failed attempts to reach them.

Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha granted the request and directed the deputy registrar to assist in locating the witnesses, before adjourning the case to Monday.

Earlier in the day while defending himself in unsworntestimony, Okello told court that he went through a period of intense psychological distress between January and March, during which he claimed unknown individuals threatened, followed and demanded money from him.

He said the situation forced him to flee his home in Bunga and live on the streets for some time, as he “was always on the run” and did not feel safe returning to his residence.

However after the adjournment of the matter the Deputy registrar Samuel Twakire informed the public that the next hearing may be at the High Court if it confirmed they would move there.