Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) Commissioner General Johnson Byabashaija has confirmed the recapture of three inmates who escaped from Moroto Government Prison.
Through a social media conversation, Byabashaija also confirmed that inmates had taken away with 14 guns after the evening breakout.
One of the escapees “has been put out of action,” the country’s chief jailer added.
“Pursuit continues. It’s a matter of time. Very unfortunate incident indeed.”
The UPS boss also revealed that “those who escaped are Covid19 suspects who were waiting for their results.”
A UPDF helicopter was still trying to locate the inmates, who had taken off to Mount Moroto.
Army spokesperson Flavia Byekwaso has put the number of escapees at 219.
Byekwaso says the inmates included hard core criminals, some of them former cattle rustlers.
They were undergoing trial before a military court.
PREVIOUS PRISON BREAKS IN MOROTO
- January 2006: 10 inmates kill Corporal Walter Ochoria, a warder, injure his colleague and take off with gun
- March 2008: seven prisoners try to escape from Moroto Prison
