Student’s mysterious disappearance in Uganda unresolved

By Alex Kiprotich

For three decades, one family in Rift Valley has endured the pain of losing one of its daughters in a foreign land under mysterious circumstances.

The disappearance of Esther Jeruto Chesire on February 13, 1976 at Entebbe Airport, Uganda, still remains a mystery 32 years later.

Jeruto, who was a student at the Makerere University, was reportedly picked by Ugandan authorities at the airport while waiting to board a plane to return to Kenya.

Jeruto, who was studying Political Science and Diplomacy, was born on May 22, 1953 at Kosoiyo village, Baringo district. She was the daughter of the late Isaiah Chesire and Elizabeth Kobilo, and was the eighth born in a family of 12 children — nine girls and three boys.

During a telephone interview with her brother, Mr Reuben Chesire, last month, he said the family had since left the matter to God.

"We did all that we could while searching for her but the circumstances that surrounded her disappearance were too mysterious and baffling," said the former Eldoret North Member of Parliament, now deceased.

CONFUSING EXPLANATIONS

Many theories have been advanced to explain Jeruto’s disappearance but none has helped in tracing her.

One theory has it that Jeruto was abducted by Idi Amin’s secret agents from the dreaded Research Bureau for Counter Intelligence while at the airport. It is claimed that she was with a fellow Kenyan student, Sally Githere.

This, it was claimed, had angered Ugandan authorities making her a victim of a sour relationship between Kenya and Uganda.

The relationship between the Kenyan Government under President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Amin was frosty because of a boundary dispute.

"We do not know how my sister could have fallen victim of two government’s power struggles," said Chesire.

Another theory had it that her abductors were working for some people in the current Ugandan government.

It was claimed that she was abducted by members of Front for National Salvation (FRONASA) in order to fuel hostility between Uganda and Kenya for the benefit of guerrillas fighting Amin.

From the time Jeruto disappeared at the airport, nobody has ever come out to divulge any information about her.

mysterious murder

Yet other people claim that Jeruto could have been embroiled in a love triangle between an army officer in Uganda and a student at the university.

Before her disappearance, a student, who was close to her, was murdered under mysterious circumstance. It was suspected that the murder was committed by a Ugandan army officer.

Though the Kenyan government pressed Ugandan officials to launch an inquiry into Jeruto’s disappearance or possible death, nothing came out of it.

"The government tried to put pressure on the Ugandan government to assist in solving the puzzle but as far as I know nothing came out of it," said Chesire.

A commission of inquiry into the disappearance of the Kenyan student was launched by the Ugandan government.

However, one of the wardens of the hall where Jeruto resided while studying at the university refused to testify.

Interestingly, she was also subsequently killed under mysterious circumstances.

Theresa Nanziri Bukenya, the warden of Africa Hall at Makerere University was allegedly arrested by security agents and beheaded. Her body was found dumped near the hall’s grounds.

Chesire blamed the Ugandan government of complicity in the disappearance of his sister. He noted that had they wished to solve the puzzle, they would have done so immediately.

"If the Ugandan authorities had cooperated we would have known what happened and probably my sister could be here," he said.

Chesire recalled how the disappearance of Jeruto took toll on the family members saying their search for her was disheartening.

He recalled how the family spent sleepless nights as they listened to anyone who could offer clues to the whereabouts of their sister. "The support from Kenyans was overwhelming. But the matter was beyond them," he said.

Amos Kandie who is a neighbour said they were only told that Jeruto had been abducted in Uganda. "The community was mobilised and raised money to send people to Uganda for a search. But this didn’t help much because she wasn’t traced," he says.

LOSING HOPE

He says they suspected that she was killed by the Amin regime. Chesire said the family’s hopes of finding her dwindled as years passed. "We realised that only God could help us when the prospects of ever finding her or her remains became slim," he said.

The family of Chesire includes former Maendeleo ya Wanawake chairperson Zipporah Kittony.

Former President Moi is a great friend of the family.

Editors note:

Chesire died a fortnight ago and was buried on Saturday at their family land at Kasoiya, Kabarnet.