Uganda Prisons Services have confirmed that Six more prisoners who escaped from Moroto government prison have been re-arrested by Uganda People’s Defence Forces in the ongoing disarmament exercise in the Karamoja sub-region.
In September 2020, at least 224 prisoners escaped when they overpowered the prison officers and varnished with 14 guns. This prompted to an immediate hunt for the escapees where 13 were shot dead while some have been gradually rearrested thus bringing the number to 88.
Frank Baine, Uganda Prisons spokesperson said a fifth gun was also recovered in last week’s UPDF operation backed by the Anti-Stock Theft Unit-ASTU. The operations target armed rustlers that have left dozens killed.
With the re-arrest of six escapees, it means 125 are still missing almost a year later. But Baine said the hunt for the fugitives will not be stopped until all of them are rearrested to answer for their crimes.
“In the last about one week, we are happy that the teams on the ground in Karamoja have improved the surveillance and vigilance to the level that right now the recaptured escapees, the number has jumped from 82 to 88. And the guns out of the 14, we have recovered five. Those who claim to have escaped from the prison we shall continue to pursue them. They are supposed to answer their charges before the courts of law,” Baine said.
Grace Akullo, the Director of Criminal Investigations instituted a team led by Francis Olugu, who was then head of the general crimes desk to establish circumstances under which the 224 inmates escaped.
Olugu’s team established that there were 684 inmates of which 107 were high profile suspects who had been recommended for trial in Court Martial since they had allegedly involved themselves in series of armed robberies.
Moroto Central Prison is under renovation, eight months after inmates escaped from the facility in September 2020.
Following the jailbreak Dr Johnson Byabashaija, the Commissioner-General of Uganda Prison Services promised several changes to the home of people condemned by the law.
In the compound, some inmates dug up pits and house-like foundations next to the old buildings of the prisons houses. The prison management has also installed CCTV cameras at different points that monitor activities within and outside prison cells.
At the main entrance to the prison premises, visitors are subjected to thorough checks before accessing the premises. They are not allowed to access the prisons with any gadgets and mobile phones. However, the Moroto Prison in Charge, Latif Mayamba declined to comment about more ongoing works.
