Officer in charge of Moroto prison at time of  jail break suspended

The Commissioner-General of Prisons, Dr.Johnson Byabashaija has suspended with immediate effect the officer who was in charge of  Moroto prison in Karamoja region when over 200 inmates escaped.

Last month, a total of 219 inmates overpowered prison warders at Singila prison in Moroto District, broke into the armory and took off with 15 guns and ran towards Mt.Moroto.

A number of them have either been apprehended or have been shot dead by the joint security team including Police and the UPDF.

However, according to the latest changes in the Uganda Prisons Services, Superintendent of Prison Norman Aruho who was the officer in charge of the prison has been suspended.

“SP Latif Mayamba has been transferred to Uganda Prison Moroto as the Office in Charge to take over from SP Norman Aruho who is suspended from duty with immediate effect,” Byabashaija’s message reads in part.

https://nilepost.co.ug/2020/09/24/moroto-prison-break-dr-byabashaija-admits-errors-but-says-escapees-will-soon-be-apprehended/

The latest changes have also seen Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Maximillian Byamugisha transferred to Moroto as the deputy officer in charge of the prison.

“These orders take immediate effect and ASP Grace Adrawa should start the exercise of taking over and handing over without delay. The Director Administration should facilitate the movement of officers,” the Commissioner General of Prisons said in his message.

Dr.Byabashaija recently visited the prison facility to assess the situation and also get facts about the escape but he noted that there were some errors inside the prison that caused the mass escape.

“We had some errors inside the prison and our gatekeeper was not adequately protected which is a structural deficiency. I have instructed my Assistant Commissioner in charge of security to deal with it very quickly. We must protect the gatekeeper with a cage such that prisoners don’t get access to him,” Byabashaija said last month.

He noted that the prison didn’t have watchtowers but added that he has directed that they are constructed to avert the occurrence of such an incident in the future.

“If we had watchtowers here, of course we would not have had that problem because you shoot directly at the prisons from the watchtower. We are also going to have a double fence.”

Speaking to staff, Byabashaija said  Uganda Prisons has offered a shs1.5 million bounty for each gun recovered and shs500,000 for every escapee recaptured.

“I want to inform the escapees that it is only a matter of time. We are going to get them like those who escaped in Arua were got and even those who escaped in Bukwo. These ones will also be got,” Byabashaija said.

“In Uganda, you can’t get lost. Even if you go to a neighbouring country, by collaboration, we shall bring you back. Every day we are picking one by one.”

The September 16 incident is one of the biggest jail-breaks in Uganda in recent years.