By Swift Reporter
Proceedings in the High Court trial of Christopher Okello Onyum were on Friday halted after a heavy downpour and thunderstorms disrupted the public hearing in Ggaba, forcing judicial officials to adjourn the session to Monday.
The court, currently sitting at the Ggaba Community Church grounds to allow greater public access, was overtaken by flooding as rains intensified shortly after the lunch break. Water flowed into sections of the makeshift courtroom, leaving court staff and attendees scrambling to stay dry, with some lifting their legs to avoid the rising waters.
Judicial officers suspended the proceedings, citing safety concerns and the difficulty of continuing under deteriorating conditions.
Despite the disruption, the case continues to command nationwide attention, with large crowds gathering daily to witness the proceedings. The decision to hold the trial in an open setting has been widely seen as a move to promote transparency and public confidence in the justice process.
Okello is facing multiple counts of murder over the deaths of four toddlers at a Ggaba-based early childhood development centre earlier this month, a tragedy that shocked the nation and sparked widespread calls for accountability and stronger child protection measures.
Earlier in the day, the court heard gripping testimony from Emmanuel Nuwamanya, the Deputy Director of Uganda Police Health Services, who presented findings from a psychiatric evaluation of the accused.
Dr. Nuwamanya told court that while Okello appeared mentally stable and demonstrated normal thought processes during examination, his history revealed troubling episodes suggestive of a mental condition.
“My Lord, the accused reported a history of mental illness between 2016 and 2025, associated with both auditory and visual hallucinations,” he testified, noting that the information was obtained directly from the accused.
In a shocking revelation, the psychiatrist further told court that Okello admitted to killing his younger brother several years ago, claiming at the time that he was “rescuing him from the troubles of this world.” The court also heard that the accused attempted suicide in 2023 and is currently undergoing treatment for sickle cell disease.
However, Dr. Nuwamanya maintained that despite this background, the accused was coherent and mentally stable at the time of assessment, with no immediate impairment that would prevent him from standing trial.
The dramatic testimony added another layer of complexity to an already disturbing case, as prosecutors continue to build their argument that Okello intentionally carried out the killings.
As proceedings resume on Monday, next week, public attention remains firmly fixed on the case, with many Ugandans closely following the trial in anticipation of justice for the young victims and their grieving families.
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