Africa News of Wednesday, 14 October 2020

Source: monitor.co.ug

Moroto Prison break: 116 inmates, 14 guns still missing

Police pursue prisoners who escaped from Moroto government prison Police pursue prisoners who escaped from Moroto government prison

A total of 116 prisoners who escaped from Moroto Prison are still missing.

On September 16, at least 223 inmates escaped from the facility after attacking the prison wardens and stealing guns and ammunition from the armoury.

The Prisons spokesperson, Frank Baine, said during the hunt for the prisoners, 12 were shot dead and 116 escaped.

Mr Baine also said the Moroto Prison break is being investigated by all security agencies.

“We are putting much of our emphasis on areas of Kotido, Nakapiripirit and DR Congo because we suspect that some of the escapees could have crossed the border into DR Congo,” Mr Baine said yesterday in an interview.

A source, who preferred anonymity, told Daily Monitor that before the escape of prisoners from the facility, the prison armoury had a total of 19 AK-49 guns, one pistol and 480 bullets.

“During the escape, the prisoners went with 14 guns and 480 bullets which have not been recovered since the escape,” the source said.
Mr Baine also confirmed that none of the stolen guns had been recovered since the escape of the prisoners.

According to Prison records, before the escape, a total of 648 inmates were being held at the facility.

“The prisons administration has put up a Shs1.5 million reward for anybody who will lead them to recover any of the missing guns and Shs500,000 for anybody who will lead them to re-arrest the prisoners,” Mr Baine said.