Nursery school massacre: Machete-wielding attacker kills 4 children in Ugandan capital

Kampala: A man wielding a machete killed four children inside a nursery school in the Ugandan capital on Thursday after gaining entry by posing as a parent, according to local authorities.

The assailant entered the Gaba Early Childhood Development Program by disguising his identity to bypass security, the Daily Monitor newspaper reported. Once inside, he briefly spoke with a school administrator before stepping outside to lock the facility’s gate, trapping those within. He then began a systematic attack on the students.

The attacker "brutally stabbed and killed four juveniles," the Uganda Police Force confirmed in a formal statement.

Chaos and Arrest

Broadcast footage from local outlet NTV showed distraught parents weeping outside the school as news of the massacre spread. As a large, incensed crowd gathered near the scene, police were forced to fire warning shots into the air to disperse those attempting to lynch the suspect.

Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke informed The Associated Press that the suspect is currently in custody, while the motive behind the killings remains unclear.

A Rare Tragedy

Violent targeted attacks on educational institutions and young children are considered rare in Kampala, a metropolitan area of approximately 3 million residents.

Authorities have cordoned off the school as forensic teams begin their investigation. Officials have not yet released the identities or exact ages of the four victims, pending notification of their families.

With inputs from AP