NOT READY TO DIE: Christopher Okello Onyum Appeals against Death Sentence

Committed on April 2, 2026, the crimes by Christopher Okello Onyum shocked Uganda. Okello Onyum carried out a brutal attack at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre in Kampala, where he targeted toddlers.

Investigations later revealed that he had previously visited the school under the pretext of enrolling a child, suggesting that the attack may have been premeditated.

On the day of the incident, Okello Onyum reportedly disguised himself as a parent to gain access to the nursery school. Once inside, he launched a violent assault on the toddlers using a sharp weapon.

The attack lasted only a few minutes but left four children dead, all aged between about one and three years. The horrifying nature of the crime triggered national outrage, with parents and residents attempting to lynch him before police intervened and took him into custody.

Following his arrest, investigators began piecing together a possible motive. Court testimony indicated that Onyum believed he could gain wealth through human sacrifice, a notion he allegedly derived from stories encountered earlier in life. A police medical expert told court that the suspect clearly explained this belief during examination, linking it directly to the killings.

As the case proceeded, Onyum was formally charged with multiple counts of murder and presented before court. During early proceedings, he pleaded not guilty, with his defense team arguing that he suffered from mental illness and should not be held criminally responsible.

The trial itself drew massive public attention and was conducted through a mobile court system set up near the crime scene. Hundreds of residents attended the hearings, where prosecution presented forensic evidence, witness testimony, and psychiatric evaluations.

Medical reports ultimately concluded that Onyum was mentally fit to stand trial, strengthening the prosecution’s case that the killings were deliberate.

During the proceedings, the prosecution emphasized the calculated nature of the attack, including evidence that the accused had researched schools beforehand.

The judge rejected the insanity defense, noting that the manner in which the crime was executed demonstrated planning and awareness.

The court found that the prosecution had proved “malice aforethought,” a key requirement for a murder conviction under Ugandan law.

Ultimately, the High Court in Kampala convicted Christopher Okello Onyum on all counts of murder and sentenced him to death. In her ruling, Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha described the crime as falling within the “rarest of the rare” category, citing the vulnerability of the victims and the brutality of the act.

In court, Okello declined to apologize or even say something after Justice Komuhangi sentenced him to death.

But the judge told Okello he had a right to appeal within 14 days.

Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) spokesperson Frank Baine recently told NTV Uganda that he had received information from the office in charge of the condemned wing of Luzira Prison that Okello had initiated a process to appeal his death sentence.

It should also be remembered that even when a death row inmate like Okello Onyum fails to appeal within the set deadline, he can still be allowed to file a late appeal, provided he gives a convincing explanation as to why he did not file within the set time.

It should be remembered that Uganda Prisons Commissioner General Byabashaija has made it clear that Christopher Okello Onyum will be hanged within 72 hours if President Museveni signs his death warrant. (See Details Here).

According to the law, if Christopher Okello Onyum’s appeal fails even in the Supreme Court, his fate will be in the president’s hands as Museveni can do three things to him, as detailed HERE.