Onyum’s Death Row Escape Bid Begins At Court Of Appeal

Convicted Ggaba child killer Christopher Okello Onyum has launched a fresh fight to escape the death sentence as his case moves to the Court of Appeal.

After being sent to death row by the High Court, Onyum has returned to court with a new challenge, asking the appellate judges to overturn the decision that found him guilty of killing four children.

The former convict is fighting the judgment on several grounds, including claims that the evidence against him was not properly weighed and that his mental state at the time of the incident was not given enough attention and that the sentence was harsh and based on anger on the part of the justice.

His lawyers are seeking to convince the Court of Appeal that the High Court made errors while handling the trial and should reconsider the outcome.

The High Court later found Onyum guilty and handed him the maximum punishment available under the law ,a death sentence.

Now, the courtroom battle has entered another chapter.

The Court of Appeal will determine whether Onyum remains condemned to death or whether his conviction and sentence will be changed.

For the families of the victims and the public that followed the case closely, the appeal opens another tense wait for justice.

James Ereemye, the Judiciary spokesperson says the hearing date has not yet been fixed by the Court of Appeal.

Onyum, the man condemned to death for the horrifying killing of four toddlers at a daycare centre in Ggaba, was sentenced to death by Alice Komuhangi Khaukha after the High Court found him guilty of murdering four innocent children during a brutal attack that shocked the entire country.

The horrifying incident happened at Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre on April 02, where the children, all aged between two and three years, were attacked and killed in cold blood.

During sentencing, Justice Komuhangi described the killings as among the “rarest of the rare” cases deserving the highest punishment under Ugandan law.

Court ruled that the attack appeared planned and deliberate.

Investigators told court that examinations of Onyum’s electronic devices allegedly revealed disturbing online searches before the killings including searches for schools and violent extremist content.

The ruling triggered emotional scenes in court with grieving parents and relatives of the murdered toddlers breaking down as the death sentence was read.

Under Ugandan law, any person sentenced to death has a constitutional right to appeal both the conviction and sentence.

Although Uganda still retains the death penalty, executions have not been carried out for many years.

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