By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
A man armed with a machete and knives killed four children at a nursery school in the Ugandan capital on Thursday, gaining access to the facility by posing as a parent seeking enrollment. The attack, which occurred at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time (08:00 a.m. in Ghana), resulted in the immediate deaths of one girl and three boys. The incident has stunned this upmarket suburb of Kampala, a city where such targeted violence against learners is exceptionally rare.
Deceptive Entry and Method of Attack
The assailant utilized a calculated deception to gain entry to the educational facility. Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala noted that the suspect had visited the school earlier in the week to inquire about enrollment and was instructed to return Thursday. Upon his return, “He paid for admission [and] after that proceeded and attacked these children, killing four of them instantly,” she said. Eyewitnesses say the suspect disguised himself as a parent and first entered the school offices, where he briefly engaged the administrator in charge. After this initial interaction, the man took measures to trap those inside. “He later stepped outside, locked the gate, and began attacking the children one after another,” according to local reports. Investigators confirmed the attacker utilized more than one knife, alongside a machete, to carry out the violence.
Law Enforcement Response and Public Grief
Ugandan police officials moved quickly to address the unfolding crisis and secure the scene. In a formal statement on X, the Ugandan police said, “We confirm a tragic incident at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Program school, in Makindye Division Kampala City where a male suspect brutally stabbed and killed four juveniles.” Video footage from local broadcaster NTV captured the immediate aftermath, showing distraught parents weeping outside the school. To maintain order, police fired into the air to disperse an angry crowd that had gathered with the intention of lynching the suspect. The remaining ten children present at the school during the attack were unharmed and have since been handed back to their parents.
Apprehension and Identification of the Victims
A security guard from a nearby church ultimately intervened to stop the violence. Police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke confirmed that the attacker “brutally stabbed and killed four juveniles” before being taken into custody. Police have since identified the suspect as 39-year-old Okello Christopher Onyum. The four victims, all pupils of the daycare, were identified by authorities as 2-year-old Gideon Eteku, 2-year-old Kaise Alungat, 3-year-old Ignatius Sserwange, and 2-year-old Ryan Odeke. While the suspect is currently being held, his reasons for the massacre remain unclear. “The suspect has been apprehended,” the police post on X confirmed, while noting that “the motive behind the killings is still under investigation.”
Security Context in Kampala
This level of targeted violence against young children is highly unusual for the region. Kampala is a city of roughly three million people where such incidents are historically rare. The Ggaba area is typically described as an upmarket suburb, making the sudden outburst of violence even more unexpected for residents. Police chief Abas Byakagaba and other senior officers visited the site to be briefed on the investigation, with Byakagaba urging the public to remain calm while authorities complete their work.
The Uganda Police Force has extended its deepest condolences to the affected families, assuring the public that a thorough investigation is underway to establish the background of the suspect and the circumstances of the crime. While this incident appears to be an isolated criminal act within the capital, it has sparked a national conversation regarding the security of early childhood centers. The tragic incident has sent shock waves across the country, raising serious concerns about the safety of learners in the East African nation. As the community mourns the loss of Gideon, Kaise, Ignatius, and Ryan, the focus remains on ensuring that justice is served for this unprecedented tragedy.
