Grieving Mother Collapses in Court After Heart-Wrenching Testimony in Ggaba Daycare Massacre Trial

The trial of Christopher Okello Onyum, the main suspect in the brutal stabbing of four toddlers at Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre on April 2, kicked off in Kampala’s High Court on Monday.

Stella Apolot, a 36-year-old vegetable vendor from Ggaba landing site, took the stand to describe dropping off her two-and-a-half-year-old son, Gideon Eteku, at the daycare that fateful morning.

Testifying in Luganda, Apolot recounted receiving a frantic call around 11am from a friend warning her of an attacker at the school. She rushed there on a boda boda, pushing through crowds to her son’s classroom, but got no response to her calls.

At the hospital, she found the children covered and learned they had all died from stab wounds. She briefly saw Gideon’s bloodied body before it was moved to Mulago Hospital.

Apolot later identified the accused in court, noting she only recognized him from photos and now in person. The family took Gideon’s body to Pallisa for burial on Saturday.

During cross-examination, she mentioned that while gate personnel existed, teachers mainly handled checks, with little focus on security.

Moments after stepping down, Apolot collapsed and was aided by Red Cross responders, pausing the session briefly.

This article is based on a report from the Daily Monitor: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/mother-faints-after-emotional-testimony-in-ggaba-daycare-murder-trial-5421880.