Security has sealed off roads out of Moroto in an operation to arrest prison escapees. Sources have confirmed that three have so far been killed while seven were arrested.
Security forces – UPDF, Uganda Police and Uganda Prisons Services have sealed off all entry and exit points in/out of Moroto in an effort to trace the massive number of prisoners who escaped yesterday.
The 219 Prisoners escaped with at least 15 AK-47 rifles, 20 magazines and other ammunition, UPDF said.
“It’s a mass escape … these were hard-core criminals,” Brigadier Flavia Byekwaso, UPDF Spokesperson said.
By Thursday’s morning, seven of the prisoners had been arrested, and other three put out of action as they exchanged fire with security officers.
“They’ve had a whole night to disperse and hide, it complicates our efforts but we shall get them.” Brigadier Flavia added.
This is Uganda’s third prisoner escape since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in March as fears of contracting the virus in cramped jails spurred inmates’ efforts to break out.
One UPDF officer has been confirmed dead after about 50 prisoners disarmed prison warders and broke out of Moroto Government Prison in Moroto district.
However, other sources put the number of escapees at 200 naked prisoners. The sources say they scattered into Africa, having overpowered their guard and dumped the distinctive yellow uniforms that were supposed to make them easy to spot.
Forces in the country’s northeast district of Moroto have been searching for the inmates who broke into an armory, stripped and fled into a remote wilderness area after escaping jail.
A firefight ensued, in which at least three people – a solider and two of the 219 escapees – died, according to Brig. Flavia Byekwaso, spokeswoman for the military.
The pursuit is continuing,’ she said, and warned that the escaped inmates might raid local homes for clothes. Yesterday, was not immediately possible to reach prison authorities or local officials.
