By Deborah Namamonde
A caretaker at Gaba Early Childhood Development Centre has told court how murder suspect Christopher Okello Onyum posed as a parent seeking to enroll a child, returned to the school, and moments later chaos erupted in an attack that left four children dead.
The testimony came as Okello appeared before a mobile court in Gaba for the start of his trial, where he pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder.
The long-awaited hearing was held within the community, drawing large crowds of residents, religious leaders and families of the victims, all packed into a tented court as proceedings got underway.
Presiding Judge Alice Komuhangi Khaukha formally read out the charges against Okello, linked to the deaths of Etuke Gedio, Kaisha Otimu, Sseruyange Ingenious and Odeke Ryan. The accused, who followed proceedings in English, denied all the charges.
Prosecution, led by Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya, told court that agreed facts include postmortem reports confirming the cause of death. The examinations were conducted by Dr. Katongole Abdullah.
In her testimony, caretaker Namutebi Fibe said Okello first visited the school expressing interest in registering a child. She told court he later returned, paid registration fees for a child identified as Zeuriel Onyum, and briefly stepped out of the office.
Moments later, she said, screams filled the compound.
Namutebi testified that she tried to intervene but was overpowered as the accused fought her, while teachers raised alarm. She told court the suspect was eventually subdued by a security guard and members of the public, and was later found with knives hidden in his socks.
Court heard that four children were killed on the spot and rushed to Wentzi Medical Centre.
The hearing also featured emotional testimony from the parents of the victims, who recounted how they received news of the killings on April 2. Proceedings were briefly halted when Stella Apollo, mother to Ateko Gedion, collapsed in court.
After hearing six witnesses, including the parents of the deceased, the court adjourned the case to April 15 for cross-examination and further hearing.
The prosecution team comprises Jonathan Muwaganya and Anna Kiiza, while the defence is led by Richard Kumbuga and Sarah Awelo.
