By Aggrey Baba
People of Bukaya in Njeru Division, Buikwe District are in shock after police retrieved the decomposing body of a young woman from the compound of a senior government official, with early confessions by suspects pointing to a possible ritual sacrifice linked to ambitions for a job promotion.
Jesca Mutesi, a 26-year-old woman from Masese in Jinja City, had been reported missing last month. The horror behind her disappearance only became public this week after two suspects, already in police custody, admitted they lured and killed her, allegedly under the orders of Amina Mutesi, the Principal Inspector of Schools in Jinja.
Unconfirmed but widely circulated reports now suggest the killing may have been a ritual sacrifice, possibly carried out to secure a promotion for the senior officer within the Ministry of Education.
Area police spokesperson ASP James Mubi said that the police are still verifying the ritual sacrifice allegations, adding that the confession is very clear, that they strangled Jesca and buried her in the compound.
Jesca had reportedly been approached by two casual labourers who promised to find her a job in Njeru. Filled with hope, she accepted the offer and travelled, not knowing it would be her last journey.
Instead of beginning work, she was taken straight to Amina Mutesi’s home, where she spent the night where she was killed before sunrise.
Now, residents of Bukaya and Jesca’s home area in Masese are struggling to come to terms with the gruesome news, with some describing her as a “quiet and humble girl” who didn’t deserve such a cruel fate.
The police say the suspects led them to the scene, where Jesca’s body had been buried for weeks. The stench had reportedly raised concern in the area, but nobody imagined the truth would be this disturbing.
As of now, Amina Mutesi and her two alleged accomplices are being held as investigations continue. Police say they are preparing to transfer the trio to Njeru Police Station, where the crime is believed to have occurred.
Meanwhile, authorities say more arrests could follow depending on the results of ongoing investigations, including a forensic examination of the body at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.
“Let’s wait for the evidence to guide us. But what we know for now is that this was a calculated, premeditated killing,” Mubi said.
As the community mourns, the bigger question remains: How far are some people willing to go for power? And how many more innocent lives could be in danger? (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
