Families of the four toddlers killed in last week’s attack at Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre have each received Shs10 million in cash from government.
The support was delivered by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, during a memorial service held on Easter Monday, where leaders and mourners gathered to grieve the young victims.
The service drew families of the deceased, government officials and community members, including Kampala Mayor Ronald Balimwezo, area MP Ali Mulyanyama, and religious leaders such as Pastor Lubega and Pastor Sserwadda.
As the families received support, Ggaba Community Church, which runs Maranatha Schools, announced a major decision regarding the site where the children were killed.
Senior pastor Peter Kasirivu said the church will demolish the old structure that housed the daycare centre and turn the area into a memorial garden.
“In the next few months, before we construct the new building, we are going to demolish it and build a memorial for these kids there. There will be a garden so that this becomes a memory for these beautiful souls,” Kasirivu said.
He stressed that children will not be allowed to return to the building following the tragedy.
Kasirivu explained that the centre has served the community for 27 years, beginning as a feeding programme supported by Compassion International before growing into a childcare facility for children aged between zero and three years.
Over the years, more than 1,000 children have passed through the centre. However, he noted that the church had recently raised concerns about the condition of the building and had already started mobilising funds for a new structure.
“We started a campaign to raise money to put up a better building ans we have so far raised Shs 200 million out of the 800 million needed for the new structure. We I ask all of you to continue praying for us and those who can, to support us,” he said.
The developments follow the April 2 incident in which a man identified by police as Christopher Okello Onyum allegedly gained access to the centre by posing as a parent before attacking children inside.
Four toddlers identified as Gideon Eteku, Alungat Kaise, Ignatius Sserwange and Ryan Odeke were stabbed to death.
Government later ordered the closure of the daycare centre and its sister schools as investigations into the incident continue.
