Christopher Okello Onyum, the suspect in the killing of four toddlers at Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre in Kampala, reportedly had a history of mental illness, according to his family. He had previously reportedly been taken to the United States for treatment before discreetly returning to Uganda. Onyum, who is currently detained at Kabalagala Police Division, is accused of entering the school on Thursday posing as a parent seeking to enrol a child. He allegedly attacked children playing at the seesaw, killing four in an incident that has shocked the country. The suspect was rescued from an angry mob by a joint deployment of police and army soldiers.New information emerging from sources close to the investigation suggests the suspect had a history of mental health challenges. It is alleged that his family sought treatment for him in the United States, where he reportedly stayed for some time before returning to Uganda in November last year. Local leaders say the suspect’s father, who reportedly identified him through images circulated after the incident, shared this information with investigators. Ggaba LCIII councillor Arnold Kasujja said accounts from both family members and local taxi operators point to a troubled past. “It’s the father, a resident of Bunga, who told police that they took him to the USA for treatment, and the family didn’t even know he had returned,” Kasujja said. He added that some taxi drivers who knew the suspect claimed he had spoken about visiting a traditional healer who allegedly told him that ritual sacrifice was the only way to acquire wealth. There are also unverified claims linking the suspect to an earlier incident involving the death of his stepbrother in 2017, a matter that reportedly did not reach police but is said to have prompted the family to seek treatment for him abroad. On Friday, state minister for Higher Education John Chrysestom Muyingo visited the scene and ordered the closure of the facility and its sister schools as investigations continue. The ministry has pledged support to the affected families and injured staff. Investigations into the circumstances and motive behind the attack are ongoing.The post Suspect in Ggaba toddler killings has history of mental illness, witchcraft appeared first on The Observer.