One UPDF Soldier Shot Dead As 50 Inmates Escape
One Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) soldier has been shot dead after more than 50 inmates escaped from Moroto Government Prison. The inmates escaped at around 5:00 pm today Wednesday after reportedly breaking into the armoury and stealing about 30 guns.
The prisoners are reported to have fled towards Tapac and Loputuk sub-counties. A prisons officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said the inmates attacked an officer on duty and broke into the armoury. Gunfire rocked Moroto town for at least 30 minutes as a combined force of the army, police and prisons engaged the armed inmates in a gunfire exchange.
Moments later two military helicopters were seen hovering over Mt. Moroto where the inmates are believed to have been hiding. Grace Nali a crime preventer in Singila Cell, Moroto municipality said they heard gunfire and saw a lot of inmates running.
“Some were naked while others were in their yellow uniform. They were armed and were exchanging fire with the security forces,” said Nali.
Last week, Moroto Government Prison was closed to new inmates after 30 inmates tested positive to Covid-19. All the 30 were evacuated to Jinja isolation centre for treatment while over 200 other inmates were placed under quarantine.
