Family Defends Man Who Slaughtered 4 School Children In Ggaba – Says He’s Mad And Deserves Treatment Not Luzira

Investigators probing the killing of four toddlers at a daycare centre in the lakeside suburb of Ggaba are examining new claims about the mental health history of the prime suspect, as authorities urge caution against speculation in a case that has stunned the nation.

Police say Christopher Okello Onyum, who remains in custody at Kabalagala Police Division, is accused of fatally stabbing four children at Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre on Thursday. According to preliminary findings, the suspect allegedly gained access to the premises by posing as a parent seeking to enrol a child.

The victims, all toddlers, were reportedly attacked while at play in what officials have described as a deeply disturbing incident that has triggered widespread grief and outrage across Uganda.

Security personnel intervened shortly after the attack, rescuing the suspect from a crowd of residents who had gathered at the scene. A joint team of police and military officers extracted him amid rising tensions, preventing what authorities said could have escalated into mob justice.

As the investigation gathers pace, individuals described as close to the suspect’s family have begun sharing details that may help authorities establish a motive. Family members reportedly told investigators that Onyum had a history of mental illness and had previously undergone treatment outside the country.

“It’s the father, a resident of Bunga, who told police that they took him to the USA for treatment, and the family didn’t even know he had returned,” said Ggaba LCIII councillor Arnold Kasujja.

Investigators believe the suspect may have re-entered Uganda in November last year after reportedly receiving treatment in the United States, although officials have yet to publicly confirm travel records or medical documentation.

Additional accounts emerging from local sources point to a troubled past, but many of these claims remain unverified. Authorities have emphasized that such information is still being assessed and should not be treated as established fact.

Councillor Kasujja said some taxi operators who were familiar with the suspect alleged that he had spoken about visiting a traditional healer. According to these accounts, the healer reportedly advised him that ritual sacrifice was the only path to wealth.

There are also unverified reports linking the suspect to an earlier family-related incident in 2017 involving the death of a stepbrother, which sources claim may have influenced the family’s decision to seek treatment abroad. However, police have not confirmed any connection.

Law enforcement officials have warned against drawing conclusions prematurely, stressing that determining the motive remains a central focus of the ongoing inquiry.

On Friday, State Minister for Higher Education Dr John Chrysestom Muyingo visited the scene of the attack and ordered the immediate closure of the daycare centre and its affiliated institutions as a precautionary measure.

Government officials say psychosocial support services are being mobilized for affected families, staff, and surviving children, as communities grapple with the aftermath of the killings.

Meanwhile, security agencies continue to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the attack, with investigators expected to review witness statements, forensic evidence, and the suspect’s background in an effort to establish what led to one of the most shocking incidents in recent memory.