As the trial of Christopher Okello Onyum continues to unfold, new revelations about his financial activity have provided investigators with a deeper understanding of the man at the centre of one of Uganda’s most disturbing criminal cases.
Testimony presented in court has shed light not only on his movements but also on the flow of money through his bank accounts and mobile transactions in the months leading up to the tragic killings in Ggaba.
The financial trail was pieced together by Detective Inspector Aggrey Mpamizo, who was tasked with analysing both telecommunications data and banking records linked to the suspect. Acting on court orders secured through Makindye Chief Magistrates Court, the detective obtained key documents from MTN Uganda Limited and Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited.
The findings were later compiled into a detailed report and submitted to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, forming a crucial part of the prosecution’s case against Okello.
According to the court testimony, Okello operated three separate bank accounts, all opened within a narrow timeframe in early November 2025. Using his national identification, he registered one Uganda shilling account and two accounts denominated in US dollars. At the time of opening, the accounts were seeded with notable initial deposits—over 1.3 million shillings in the local currency account and a combined total of $6,000 in the dollar accounts.
Investigators revealed that Okello had described himself as a farmer residing in Ggaba when opening the accounts, a detail that has since drawn scrutiny given the scale and pattern of transactions that followed.
Over the months that followed, the Uganda shilling account became particularly active. Between November 2025 and mid-April 2026, it recorded total deposits exceeding 20 million shillings, with nearly the entire amount withdrawn or spent within the same period. By the time investigators examined the account, only a small balance remained.
A closer look at the sources of these funds revealed that a significant portion—over 16 million shillings—came from cash deposits. Additional funds were transferred via mobile money linked to Okello’s phone number, suggesting a pattern of both physical and digital financial activity.
Meanwhile, the two US dollar accounts told a different story. Each received a single deposit at the time of opening, but rather than accumulating further funds, the balances steadily declined. By mid-March 2026, both accounts had been completely drained, raising further questions about how and where the money was used.
The financial investigation extended beyond traditional banking into mobile money transactions, which painted an equally revealing picture. Data obtained from Okello’s phone number showed that between January 1 and April 2, 2026, his mobile wallet handled transactions totaling over 6.4 million shillings in incoming funds and slightly less in outgoing payments.
The sources of these mobile funds were traced to three main channels: transfers from his Stanbic bank account, international remittances through TerraPay, and payments from an individual sender. This mix of funding sources added an international dimension to the case and raised new investigative leads.
One particularly notable transaction occurred on the morning of April 2—the day of the killings. At approximately 11:11am, Okello’s phone was used to transfer 195,000 shillings to a number registered to Annet Odong Agoe, a key witness and coordinator at the daycare centre where the attack took place.
This transaction, combined with location data placing him in Ggaba at the time, has become a focal point for prosecutors attempting to reconstruct the events of that day.
Equally significant was the pattern of communication—or lack thereof—on the same day. Investigators testified that after 11:38am, there was no further communication activity recorded on Okello’s phone. Prior to that, only one direct voice call had been made: a brief 39-second call to an emergency number, which was routed through the national emergency call centre.
The movement of Okello’s phone, tracked through telecom masts, showed a clear path on the day in question. Beginning in Kyanja in the early hours, the phone later appeared near the Clock Tower, moved through Bunga, and ultimately reached Ggaba Beach, where it remained during the critical timeframe of the crime.
Prosecutors argue that this sequence of movements aligns closely with the timeline of the attack, further strengthening the case against the accused.
Beyond the financial and technical details, the testimony has also highlighted the meticulous nature of the investigation. Detective Mpamizo explained how he systematically obtained, analysed, and cross-referenced data from multiple sources, ensuring that each piece of evidence could withstand scrutiny in court.
Despite objections from the defence regarding the admissibility of some documents, the presiding judge, Alice Komuhangi Khaukha, ruled in favour of the prosecution. She determined that the evidence had been lawfully obtained and that the detective was competent to present his analysis.
This ruling allowed the court to formally admit the financial records and telecom data as exhibits, marking a significant step forward in the trial.
The revelations about Okello’s bank accounts and financial behaviour have added a new layer of complexity to an already high-profile case. While the defence maintains his innocence—he has pleaded not guilty to all charges—the prosecution continues to build a narrative supported by digital and financial evidence.
At the heart of the case is the killing of four young children—Ryan Odeke, Gideon Eteku, Keisha Agenrwoth, and Ignatius Sseruyange—at a daycare centre in Ggaba, a crime that shocked the nation and prompted widespread calls for justice.
As the trial progresses, more witnesses are expected to testify, including forensic experts who will present DNA evidence collected from the scene. Each new piece of testimony brings the court closer to answering the central question: what truly happened on that fateful day?
For now, the financial trail uncovered in Okello’s bank accounts remains one of the most compelling aspects of the prosecution’s case—a detailed record of money moving in, out, and across borders, offering possible clues into motive, preparation, and intent.
Phone Records
In addition to financial data, investigators relied heavily on Okello’s phone records to map out his interactions and movements in the critical period before the killings.
Analysis of his call logs showed that on the day before the incident, he was in contact with several individuals while in Kyanja. He received multiple calls spaced across the morning hours and later in the evening, indicating he was actively communicating with different people shortly before the attack.
Investigators believe these exchanges could help establish who he was coordinating with and whether any prior arrangements were made.
On the day of the killings, early-morning activity on his phone included a mobile money notification, after which the device began moving across different parts of Kampala. The signal trail placed him first in Kyanja, then near the city centre, before passing through Bunga and eventually settling in the Ggaba area around late morning.
This digital trail closely mirrors the timeline of events under investigation, effectively placing him within the vicinity of the daycare during the crucial window.
One of the most striking findings was the near silence of his phone during the incident itself. Records indicate that only a single outgoing call was made that day—a short call to a police emergency line lasting less than a minute.
After that, the phone went quiet, with no further calls or messages registered shortly after midday.
To investigators, this abrupt halt in communication is as telling as the calls themselves. Combined with the movement data, it creates a tightly defined timeline that prosecutors argue places Okello at the scene while limiting alternative explanations.
Together, the phone data and financial records form a powerful digital footprint—one that investigators say helps connect the suspect’s actions, movements, and transactions into a single, traceable sequence.
Meanwhile, you can read about what the American Embassy, police surgeon and medical reports found on Christopher Okello Onyum’s criminal record, mental sickness claims and movements Here, There and Over There.
