A prosecution witness has laid out a chilling trail of movements made by the prime suspect in the Ggaba murder case, using CCTV footage to reconstruct his route in the hours leading up to the incident at Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre.
Assistant Inspector of Police Emmanuel Odongo, a CCTV analyst attached to the National Command and Control Centre, told court that he tracked the suspect’s vehicle across multiple locations in Kampala a day before the alleged killing.
“I retrieved and analysed CCTV footage and compiled a report to support investigations,” Odongo testified.
According to his evidence, the suspect (Christopher Okello Onyum ), driving a Toyota RAV4, was on the eve of the attack, fcaptured by police cameras moving from Kyanja through Kisaasi, and into the city.
The vehicle was later seen passing through Nakawa, New Vision Junction, and the Electoral Commission before heading towards Kibuli via Daily Monitor junction.
“The cameras captured the same vehicle proceeding towards Kibuli and later Kabalagala,” Odongo explained.
From there, the vehicle continued through Kasanga and Bunga before arriving at Ggaba Trading Centre shortly after midday.
CCTV footage from a private camera at Renewal SACCO, located behind the crime scene, showed the suspect parking the vehicle.
“I observed the driver disembark, lock the car, and physically check the doors to confirm they were secured,” Odongo told court.
“He then walked towards Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre.” he added.
The suspect reportedly returned to the vehicle about 11 minutes later and drove off, using a minor road to reconnect to Ggaba Road.
However, what followed raised further suspicion.
Odongo testified that the suspect made a prolonged stop in a dark spot between Ggaba and Bunga, an area not covered by cameras.
“A distance of about 500 metres cannot take one hour and 40 minutes,” he noted, suggesting the stop was deliberate.
The vehicle later reappeared on CCTV moving through Bunga, Kasanga, and Kabalagala, passing the traffic lights at Arena Mall before heading back towards the Electoral Commission and eventually to a Shell fuel station along Jinja Road.
“At Shell Jinja Road, the suspect parked and interacted with staff. He was also seen making phone calls,” Odongo said.
The following day, CCTV cameras captured the suspect again this time as a passenger on a motorcycle emerging from Nanjala Road before being captured by police cameras at Ggaba-Kawuku junction heading towards Ggaba.
He said he was carrying a backpack.
“I identified him using his dress code after he was arrested.The same individual was seen being transported towards the scene.”Odongo testified.
Shortly after, private cameras at Wentz Medical Centre recorded victims being rushed in for treatment.
“The time difference between the suspect being seen near the scene and the victims arriving at the medical centre was about one hour, and four minutes,” he added.
The prosecution relied on Odongo’s detailed CCTV analysis to establish the suspect’s movements, arguing it places him at key locations before and after the crime.
The court admitted the CCTV report and accompanying footage as evidence, with the trial continuing.
Last week, the court also heard from car rental director Hashim Juma, who provided context about the same vehicle seen in the CCTV footage.
Juma testified that Okello had hired the Toyota RAV4 but experienced mechanical problems along Jinja Road.
“I advised him to park it at Shell Jinja Road as I arranged for a mechanic,” Juma said.
Adding, "After repairs, the mechanic left the vehicle with Okello, but about an hour later, the suspect called again reporting another breakdown near Jinja Road roundabout".
Juma instructed him to return the vehicle to Shell Jinja Road, which he did. He later offered to refund the rental fees so Okello could hire another car, but the suspect never provided details for the transfer.
“After two days, I saw the news on TikTok that Okellohad killed chikdren in Ggaba,” Juma told court, linking the vehicle to the unfolding murder investigation.
Mr Odongo who was the 13th prosecution witness revealed to court presided over by Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha that CCTV footage at Wentz Medical Center Where they ruled the victims, showed that the first victim was rushed in at 11:20am, with the second victim being rushed in after a period of two minutes, and tye third victim being brought in at 11:24am.
The witness went on to play a 10 minutes video summarizing Okello's movements on the eve of the alleged attack and on the actual fateful day.
