Eronda
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- Dec 16, 2025
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Photo credit: Newvision, Okello Chriatopher Smiling during court session
Three court assessors on Monday night advised the High Court to convict Christopher Okello Onyum, the prime suspect in the murder of four toddlers at a Ggaba daycare centre, saying the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Delivering their joint opinion before Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha, the assessors concluded that all the ingredients of murder had been sufficiently established.
“Prosecution has proved all the ingredients in the four counts beyond a reasonable doubt. We therefore advise this honourable court to convict the accused person on the four counts as charged,” the opinion, read by Mr John Musana, stated.
The other assessors were Ms Maria Kyobijja and Rachael Ainomugisha.
However, Justice Komuhangi reminded the court that assessors’ opinions are not binding and that she retains full authority to make the final determination.
“As I told you from the very beginning, their opinion does not bind the court. The court reserves the right and the power to make the final verdict,” she said, before adjourning the case to Thursday at 10 am for judgment. The accused was further remanded.
The announcement drew ululations and applause from members of the public who have been following proceedings at the makeshift court set up at Ggaba Community Church grounds for the third week running.
Earlier, the prosecution team led by Jonathan Muwaganya and Anna Kiiza urged the court to convict Okello, arguing that the four key elements of murder—death, unlawfulness, malice aforethought, and participation—had all been proved.
Mr Muwaganya told the court that the deaths of Gideon Eteku, Keisha Agenorwoth Otim, Ignitius Sseruyange, and Ryan Odeke were confirmed through postmortem examinations conducted by Abdul Katongole.
The report indicated that the children died of hypovolemic shock resulting from deep neck wounds. The injuries, the court heard, severed critical structures including the trachea, oesophagus, major blood vessels, and nerves, with some victims also suffering spinal cord damage.
According to the prosecution, two of the children sustained 14-centimetre-deep neck wounds, while the other two had cuts measuring about nine centimetres.
On the issue of unlawfulness, the prosecution argued there was no dispute that the deaths were caused through unlawful means.
Regarding malice aforethought, Mr Muwaganya submitted that intent could be inferred from the nature of the weapon—a kitchen knife—the targeted body part (neck), and the severity of the injuries.
“We have also highlighted that in the process of executing the victims, the accused scared a witness who attempted to rescue the children, and after killing them, he threw away the knife, an act of concealing evidence,” he said.
On participation, the prosecution cited both direct and circumstantial evidence placing Okello at the scene, including DNA evidence linking him to the victims and the alleged murder weapon.
“The accused was arrested at the scene… DNA found on the knife handle and on exhibits, including the accused’s trousers, directly links him to the crime,” Mr Muwaganya submitted.
He added that the accused did not deny causing the deaths but instead claimed he lacked intent due to distress.
The prosecution also dismissed the defense’s claim of mental illness, arguing that insanity must be proven at the exact time the offence was committed.
“My lord, the defense bears the burden to satisfy the court on the balance of probabilities of the existence of legal insanity and the precise moment of the crime,” Mr Muwaganya argued.
He further told the court that Okello, upon arrest, appeared aware of the gravity of his actions and their potential legal consequences—an indication, he said, that was inconsistent with insanity.
The prosecution also challenged claims that Okello had been living on the streets, instead presenting evidence that he had been assisting vulnerable children, a conduct they argued did not point to mental instability.
Additionally, Mr Muwaganya dismissed the defense argument that possession of painkillers by Okello upon arrest indicated mental illness and pointed to mobile money transactions made shortly before the incident as proof that the accused was in a sound state of mind.
The case, which has drawn widespread public attention, will be concluded on Thursday when Justice Komuhangi delivers her judgment, determining whether Okello will be convicted or acquitted of the four counts of murder.
Source: Daily Monitor