Four young children murdered at Kampala daycare as police arrest suspect
Kampala, Uganda – The nation is mourning after a devastating incident at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Program, a daycare centre located in Ggaba Parish, Makindye Division, Kampala City, where four young children lost their lives following a violent attack on Thursday morning.
According to the Uganda Police Force, the incident occurred at around 11:00 a.m. when police in Ggaba responded to an emergency call reporting that an adult male had allegedly attacked children at the facility. Responding officers swiftly arrived at the scene and arrested the suspect, identified as Okello Christopher Onyum, aged 39, before further harm could occur.
Preliminary police findings confirm that four minors—one girl and three boys—were fatally injured during the attack. The victims, all pupils at the same daycare centre, have been identified as:
- Eteku Gideon, male, approximately 2 years old
- Kaise Alungat, female, approximately 2 years old
- Ignatius Sserwange, male, approximately 3 years old
- Ryan Odeke, male, approximately 2 years old
The suspect is currently detained at Kabalagala Police Station, where he is undergoing interrogation as investigators work to establish his motive, background, and any other circumstances surrounding the incident.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Rachael Kawala confirmed the tragedy and the arrest, noting that investigations are ongoing. She also revealed that security officers intervened to protect the suspect from angry residents who attempted to take the law into their own hands following the incident.
The Inspector General of Police, Abbas Byakagaba, visited the scene and has since deployed additional security in the area. He urged residents to remain calm and allow police to carry out thorough investigations.
Parents and guardians rushed to the daycare centre upon receiving the news, as scenes of grief and shock unfolded in the usually quiet Ggaba suburb. Authorities cordoned off the area to allow forensic teams to conduct their work.
In a statement, the Uganda Police Force described the incident as tragic and deeply disturbing, extending condolences to the affected families and assuring the public that justice will be pursued.
“This is a heartbreaking loss of innocent lives,” police said. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and assure the public that all efforts are underway to fully investigate this matter.”
Further updates will be provided as more details emerge.
