Instead of beginning work the next day, Jessica was allegedly led to the home of Amina Mutesi, the former education officer for Jinja City, where she spent the night, but never lived to see the following morning.
Shock and grief engulfed the residents of Bukaya cell in Njeru Division, Buikwe District on Thursday after police retrieved the decomposing body of a young woman believed to have been murdered in cold blood and buried in the compound of a senior education officer.
The deceased, 26-year-old Jessica Mutesi from Masese Zone, a Jinja City suburb, is believed to have been lured to her death in April under the pretense of casual employment.
Investigations by Kiira Region Police have since revealed chilling details behind Jessica’s disappearance, which had earlier been reported as a kidnap case on May 15.
According to Kiira Region Police spokesperson, James Mubi, Jessica was contacted by a duo of casual laborers who claimed to have secured her a job in Njeru.
Excited at the opportunity, Jessica reportedly accepted transport money and travelled immediately to Bukaya, where she was received by the suspects.
Instead of beginning work the next day, Jessica was allegedly led to the home of Amina Mutesi, the former education officer for Jinja City, where she spent the night, but never lived to see the following morning.
“Jessica was strangled to death and buried in the compound of Amina Mutesi,” Mubi revealed, adding that following the arrest of the suspects, they voluntarily confessed to the murder, implicating Mutesi as the mastermind.
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Police later arrested Mutesi and are in the process of transferring her and the two accomplices to Njeru Police Station, where the crime is believed to have occurred.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the killing may have been part of a ritual sacrifice allegedly aimed at securing Mutesi’s position which she lost due to allegations of mismanagement of Universal Primary Education (UPE) funds in Jinja city.
“We are still verifying those claims,” Mubi said. “But what is clear is that this was a premeditated killing orchestrated under deception.”
Residents have expressed shock over the incident, describing Jessica as a humble and hardworking young woman. Her family had been searching for her for weeks, only to be met with the devastating confirmation of her death.
“We are heartbroken,” said a family member. “Jessica left home with hope and dreams. We never imagined she was walking into a death trap.”
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As investigations continue, police have urged the public to be vigilant and report suspicious individuals or activities. Meanwhile, Jessica’s body has been taken for postmortem as preparations for a dignified burial begin.
This gruesome murder adds to the growing concern about ritual killings and exploitation in pursuit of wealth or power — a dark undercurrent that continues to haunt the country’s conscience.
Amina’s woes began in July 2022 when she allegedly abused her authority by irregularly ordering head teachers from several government-aided schools to divert about shillings 1.4 billion Universal Primary Education capitation grants for other activities and personal gains.
She, together with two other officials, kept reporting at the CIID headquarters until their eventual arraignment before Grade One magistrate Christopher Opit of the Anti-Corruption Court, who later released them on bond late last year.
Before this case is resolved, the law has caught up with Amina in another matter. If she is found guilty, it could be classified as murder or manslaughter, which carries a potential life imprisonment or death penalty sentence.