More than 50 inmates have escaped from Moroto Government Prisons on Wednesday, 16th September 2020. The escapees, also suspected of having COVID-19, fled at around 5:00 pm after reportedly breaking into the armory and stealing about 30 guns.
The UPDF has joined authorities in Moroto in hot pursuit for the inmates who made the daring escape from jail and are reported to have fled towards Tapac and Loputuk Sub Counties.
A prison officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said the inmates attacked an officer on duty and broke into the armory.
Gunfire shocked Moroto town for at least 30 minutes as a combined force of the army, police, and prisons engaged the armed inmates in gunfire.
Moments later two military helicopters were seen hovering over Mount Moroto where the inmates are believed to have been hiding.
Grace Nali a crime Preventer in Singila Cell, Moroto Municipality said that 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.
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