Hearing of the murder case against Christopher Okello Anyum, who is accused of murdering four children at Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre enters day four.
Today he High Court sitting at Ggaba Community ground received extensive medical testimony from two doctors regarding the mental condition of Christopher Okello Anyum,
The first to testify was Dr. Emmanuel Nuwamanya, a police surgeon and Deputy Director of Police Health Services based in Nsambya, who examined Okello on April 7, 2026, just days after the alleged murders.
Dr. Nuwamanya told court that at the time of his examination, Okello had visible bruises on different parts of his body, including the abdomen and forehead. Despite these injuries, he observed that the accused was calm, cooperative, and exhibited normal behavior.
He added that Okello’s speech was coherent and that he demonstrated good judgment during the assessment.
However, the doctor revealed that during their interaction, Okello allegedly admitted to killing the children, claiming that he believed in acquiring wealth through human sacrifice.
He reportedly told the doctor that the idea stemmed from childhood folk stories associated with ritual practices.
Dr. Nuwamanya further testified that Okello disclosed a history of mental illness for which he was treated between 2016 and 2017, as well as a suicide attempt in 2023.
The accused also reportedly revealed that he killed his younger brother, aged between two and three years, claiming it was done to save him from suffering.
Like the earlier testimony, Okello also informed Dr. Nuwamanya that he suffers from sickle cell disease and is on treatment. However, the doctor emphasized that he was not in a position to independently verify the claims made by the accused during the assessment.
Dr. Nuwamanya maintained that, based on his professional evaluation at the time, Okello was mentally stable at the time he examined him.
Court later heard from Dr. Rogers Agenda, a psychiatrist at C-Care International Hospital in Kampala, who told court that he examined Okello on December 30, 2025.
According to Dr. Agenda, the accused had been referred by the Ministry of Internal Affairs through the Immigration Department to undergo a sanity assessment as part of the requirements for acquiring Ugandan citizenship.
In his testimony, Dr. Agenda explained that he conducted a comprehensive psychiatric interview and mental state examination on Okello.
He concluded that the accused was of sound mind and mentally fit, a finding he documented in a report that Okello later used to support his citizenship application.
At the time, Okello was residing in Bbunga and had expressed intentions of settling in Uganda permanently and venturing into commercial farming.
Dr. Agenda told court that during the assessment, Okello did not present any signs of mental illness.
He reported no history of excessive sadness, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, abnormal fears or anxiety, or unusual mood changes such as extreme happiness.
The accused also denied experiencing hallucinations, including hearing voices or seeing things that others could not see.
The doctor further testified that Okello had no history of drug use, although he admitted to occasional alcohol consumption. Okello also indicated that he had never previously sought mental health services and had never been treated for any psychiatric condition.
In addition, Okello disclosed that he suffers from sickle cell disease and was on regular medication. He also shared personal background information, stating that he is the third born in his family, with both parents alive and no known history of mental illness among family members.
However, during cross-examination, Dr. Agenda acknowledged that individuals suffering from sickle cell disease may be at a higher risk of developing mental health complications, although he maintained that at the time of his assessment, Okello showed no signs of mental instability.
Okello faces four counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Gideon Eteku, Keisha Agenowroth Otim, Ignitious Seruyange, and Ryan Odeke, allegedly committed on April 2, 2026.
