The Commissioner General of Uganda Prisons Johnson Byabashaija has confirmed that the number of inmates who escaped from Moroto Prison on Wednesday afternoon has risen to 219.
Three have been captured by a joint security operation in the mountain of Moroto while one inmate was killed in a fire exchange since the inmates had broken into the armory and made away with 14 guns.
One UPDF soldier is reported to have been shot and died.
Earlier, this website broke a story how 50 prisoners escaped from prison and stole 15 guns.
Mr Byabashaija said UPDF and Police had mounted search in Mount Moroto and were closing in on these criminals who are majorly Karamajong warriors.
He said the military had involved in a helicopter gunship.
The escapees are suspected to be infected with COVID-19.
The escape was triggered by the transfer of 60 other prisoners to Jinja Referral Hospital for treatment after testing positive for the virus
“They are armed and dangerous. We suspect they stole 15 guns after they broke into the armory before they took off,” Byabashaija earlier said.
Byabashaija added that the spark of the prison break was COVID-19 since a section of inmates were transferred to Jinja for treatment.
“Those that have escaped had been tested but their results hadn’t come yet. So there was a lot of tension,” he said.
