Ugandan-American Man Sentenced to Death for Killing Four Children in Kampala Kindergarten Attack

Christopher Okello Onyum, a Ugandan-American man, has been sentenced to death in Uganda for killing four toddlers during a stabbing attack at a Kampala kindergarten in April. He was arrested while fleeing the scene and later convicted after prosecutors said he confessed, claiming it was linked to “human sacrifice” for wealth. The court rejected his insanity plea, ruled the attack was premeditated, and cited his lack of remorse in delivering the sentence.

A Ugandan-American man, Christopher Okello Onyum, has been sentenced to death after being found guilty of killing four young children in a brutal attack at a kindergarten in Kampala, Uganda’s capital.
The attack took place on 2 April, when Onyum entered the daycare centre and stabbed children aged between 15 months and two-and-a-half years. He was arrested shortly after the incident as he attempted to flee the scene.
Prosecutors told the court that Onyum confessed to the killings, claiming he believed the act of “human sacrifice” would make him wealthy. However, during the trial, he later pleaded not guilty.
The court rejected his claim of insanity. The judge said the manner in which the attack was carried out showed clear planning and intent, describing it as precise and deliberate rather than a spontaneous act. In delivering the sentence, she said the accused had targeted defenceless children and showed no regard for human life.
She further stated that she had considered his lack of remorse, adding that he did not express any apology to the families of the victims. The courtroom reportedly reacted with cheers when the death sentence was announced.
During the trial, evidence was presented that Onyum had searched online for violent material, including Islamic State beheadings, and had also looked up information about schools with young children. However, it remained unclear whether the attack was driven by religious, ideological, or purely personal motivations.
A staff member at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre gave a detailed and emotional testimony, describing how the attack unfolded. She initially thought he was only punishing a child, but soon realized the severity of the situation when she saw one of the victims lying in blood. She said the attacker was holding a knife and quickly turned on another child when she tried to intervene.
She attempted to stop him by throwing a bicycle used by the children, which briefly distracted him, but he then chased her and continued the attack, causing further harm before she managed to escape and raise alarm.
Parents of the victims also testified in court, describing the painful moments of receiving calls about the attack, rushing to the hospital, and discovering that their children had been killed. Their accounts highlighted the deep emotional trauma caused by the incident.
The court ultimately concluded that the killings were intentional and especially cruel, leading to the death sentence.