Jinja | Former Jinja City Principal Education Officer, Amina Mutesi, is facing a storm of serious allegations ranging from ritual murder to the abuse of public education funds.
Police in Kiira Region confirmed the arrest of Mutesi and several accomplices in connection with the suspected ritual killing of a woman in Njeru division, Buikwe district.
The incident, which has shocked the local community, is believed to be part of a gruesome ritual sacrifice.
Investigations indicate that in April 2025, Mutesi allegedly approached a casual laborer in her neighborhood, offering shs3 million to help her find a human being for ritual purposes.
The man, together with an accomplice, lured a woman identified as Jessica Mutesi, a casual worker from Kikalamoja in Walukuba East, Jinja City.
After sending her transport money, the men brought Jessica to Amina Mutesi’s residence, where she reportedly spent the night in the boys’ quarters. The next night, she was allegedly strangled to death and her body buried within the compound.
Despite the initial promise of shs3 million, Mutesi allegedly paid the two men only shs500,000. The suspects, frustrated by the unpaid balance, reportedly began sending misleading ransom messages to the victim’s family. Concerned for her safety, the family filed a kidnap report at Walukuba Police Station in mid-May.
A full-scale investigation led to the arrest of the suspects, who confessed to luring and killing Jessica under Mutesi’s instructions. The case has since been transferred to Njeru Police Station under the Sezibwa policing region, which holds jurisdiction over the scene of the crime.
Kiira Regional Police Commander SSP Charles Nsaba has been praised for his team’s swift and effective response.
“We are enhancing a comprehensive community approach to address and prevent such heinous acts,” the police said in a statement, assuring the public of continued efforts to combat ritual-related crimes.
Separate from the murder investigation, Mutesi was previously remanded to Luzira Prison on charges of abuse of office and the diversion of Universal Primary Education (UPE) funds.
She stands jointly charged with Haruna Mulopa (Education Officer) and Samuel Ngobi (Assistant Sports Officer), who have been in custody since August 2024.
The trio is accused of misusing UPE capitation grants intended for instructional materials by channeling the funds to unauthorized events, including workshops and city council functions.
According to court documents, the group allegedly instructed headteachers on May 24, 2024, to misapply government funds for Term Two activities in violation of national education policy.
Grade One Magistrate Christopher Opit granted shs3 million bail to Mulopa and Ngobi. However, Mutesi remained on remand pending verification of her bail documents. The case is scheduled to return to court on December 6, 2024.
State Attorney Raymond Mugisa told the court that investigations into the corruption matter are still ongoing.
Further inquiries by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit have also linked Mutesi to mismanagement of public property.
She is accused of unlawfully leasing out facilities at Spire Road Primary School in Jinja to various tertiary institutions since 2018 without formal agreements.
Records indicate rental income amounting to shs72 million remains unaccounted for.
Investigations into both the corruption and murder allegations are ongoing, with authorities promising a thorough and transparent process.
Discover more from tndNews, Uganda
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.