Machete-wielding man attacks Ugandan nursery school, killing 4 children

A man armed with a machete stormed a nursery school in the Ugandan capital on Thursday, killing four children aged between two and three years in a brutal attack that shocked residents and prompted a large security response.

Police said the suspect gained entry to the Gaba Early Childhood Development Programme in the Ggaba area by disguising himself as a parent . According to reports cited by the Daily Monitor, he initially entered the school offices and briefly spoke with the administrator before leaving the room.

He then stepped outside, locked the school gate and began attacking the children with a sharp object , leaving four dead inside the compound. Teachers raised the alarm during the incident.

Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirmed the deaths and said the suspect has been arrested . Authorities said the motive for the attack remains unknown and investigations are underway.

The incident triggered outrage among residents of Ggaba, an upscale suburb of Kampala. Angry crowds gathered near the school and attempted to lynch the suspect , prompting police and security personnel to intervene and fire warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd.

Some distressed parents were seen arriving at the school as news of the attack spread, while local leaders condemned the killings and called for a swift investigation. Senior security officials also visited the scene to oversee the response.

Violent attacks targeting children are rare in the city of about three million people , making the incident particularly shocking for residents and authorities alike.