A man has been arrested after four children were killed in a brutal stabbing at a nursery school in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, police confirmed Thursday.
Authorities said the attack occurred at Ggaba Early Childhood Development Program school in Makindye Division, a residential suburb of the city. Police described the incident as tragic and said investigations are ongoing to establish the motive.
“We confirm a tragic incident where a male suspect brutally stabbed and killed four juveniles,” police said in a statement shared on social media.
Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala told local media that the victims included one girl and three boys. The suspect, identified as a 34-year-old man, allegedly gained access to the school premises by disguising himself as a parent.
Attack and arrest
According to reporting by the Daily Monitor, the man first entered the school offices and briefly spoke with an administrator before stepping outside. He then reportedly locked the gate and began attacking children using a sharp object.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic and terrifying scene as the attacker moved through the compound targeting the young victims.
The attack was halted by a security guard from a nearby church, who intervened and subdued the suspect before police arrived. Authorities confirmed the man is now in custody.
“The suspect has been apprehended, and the motive behind the killings is still under investigation,” police said.
Video footage broadcast by local station NTV showed distraught parents gathering at the school, many in tears. Police fired warning shots into the air to disperse an angry crowd that had formed, with some attempting to attack the suspect.
Such attacks are uncommon in Kampala, a city of approximately three million people. The incident has sparked widespread concern about security in educational institutions.
Community leaders have called for increased vigilance and improved safeguards at schools to prevent similar tragedies.
