Trial of Man Accused in Uganda Nursery School Machete Attack Begins in Mobile Court

Trial Commences in Mobile Court Near Crime Scene The trial of Christopher Okello Onyum began on Monday in a tent near the crime scene in a suburb of Kampala, Uganda.

President Yoweri Museveni ordered a mobile court session for the trial. The mobile court session was intended to be attended by locals. Hundreds of people gathered for the trial held in a large tent erected in the grounds of a church.

This is the first test of Uganda's mobile court sessions. Mobile court sessions are intended to allow people to directly follow cases that draw widespread public interest. A legal notice with formal directives for mobile court operations was published in March.

Accusations and Plea Christopher Okello Onyum is accused of killing four children in a machete attack inside a nursery school in a suburb of Kampala on April 2.

Christopher Okello Onyum pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder on Monday. Witnesses said the attacker targeted Gaba Early Childhood Development Program by disguising himself as a parent. The attacker briefly talked to administrators at the nursery school before locking the gate and attacking the children.

Post-Attack Events An angry crowd tried to lynch Christopher Okello Onyum after the attack.

Police rescued Christopher Okello Onyum and took him into custody.