A Ugandan-American man has confessed to the brutal killing of four young children at a kindergarten in Uganda, claiming he believed the act of human sacrifice would bring him wealth, prosecutors revealed in court on Wednesday.
The suspect, Christopher Okello Onyum, 39, appeared before a Ugandan court where charges were formally read against him. Authorities allege that Onyum gained access to the facility by posing as a parent before launching a deadly knife attack on children aged between 15 months and two and a half years.
According to the indictment, Onyum admitted to the killings in a recorded statement, telling investigators he carried out the attack as part of a belief in ritual sacrifice for financial gain. Prosecutors said a medical evaluation found him mentally fit to stand trial, noting that while his thought processes were considered normal, he held a belief in “wealth through human sacrifice.”
The kindergarten targeted in the attack catered to malnourished and vulnerable children aged between three months and three years, making the incident particularly harrowing. Prosecutors further stated that evidence will show the accused had carefully planned the attack over several days before carrying it out.
More Read
The killings sparked widespread outrage across Uganda, with members of the public attempting to lynch the suspect before he was taken into custody by authorities.
During the court proceedings, relatives of the victims expressed their grief and anger, jeering at the accused, who reportedly remained unmoved.
More Read
The case has drawn strong reactions from officials. Uganda’s army chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni, publicly stated that authorities would push for the death penalty.
Onyum has been remanded in custody, and no date has yet been set for the trial.
The shocking nature of the crime has reignited concerns about ritual-related violence, though such incidents remain relatively rare in the region. For now, the nation mourns the loss of four young lives taken in an act described by prosecutors as both premeditated and senseless.
