Shock gripped residents of Njeru ,Buikwe District on Thursday as police exhumed the body of a woman believed to have been killed in a ritual sacrifice in the compound of former Jinja City education officer Amina Mutesi’s home .
“After obtaining court order to allow exhumation, it has been confirmed that the remains of Jessica Mutesi has been exhumed and taken to city mortuary Kampala for DNA forensic analysis,” said Mr James Mubi, spokesman of Kiira Police Region.
Jessica’s relatives had earlier reported her missing in April, saying kidnappers were demanding a ransom. Police investigations led to the arrest of suspects who claimed Jessica was killed in a ritual sacrifice at Amina Mutesi’s home.
According to police, Amina had allegedly approached a casual worker in Njeru Division, Buikwe District, offering Shs3 million to help her “get a human being for a purported ritual sacrifice.” The casual worker, in turn, recruited another colleague to help.
The two men contacted Jessica Mutesi, a resident of Kikaramoja in Walukuba East, Jinja City. Police say they sent her transport money, and she travelled to meet them. She was taken to Amina’s home and allocated a room in the boys’ quarters.
“They took her to the home of Amina Mutesi and was allocated a room in the boys’ quarter where the victim and the two men slept a night, the following night the victim was allegedly strangled to death and buried within the home premises of Amina Mutesi,” Mr Mubi said.
He added that Amina reportedly gave the duo only Shs500,000 of the promised amount. “The duo remained demanding for the remaining balance in vain,” he said.
The police in Ssezibwa Police Region are also processing a court order to dig up a second location where suspects claim the body was initially buried.
Ms Mutesi is already facing corruption charges. In August last year, she was arrested with three others and arraigned in court over allegations of diverting Universal Primary Education (UPE) funds.