By Insight Post Uganda
Mityana, Uganda
A shocking incident unfolded recently when three male inmates managed to escape from Mityana Government Prison, prompting a high-stakes manhunt by the Mityana Territorial Police.
The escape occurred on December 6, 2023, during the routine transfer of inmates to their wards after meals, revealing a significant lapse in security protocols.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the authorities shed light on the daring escape. Four individuals seized the opportunity to break free, with one being swiftly re-apprehended.
However, the remaining three including Francis Mfitumukiza, Gideon Nasasira, and Joseph Hakiza successfully managed to elude capture and are now at large and the subject of an intense search.
According to the police authorities, the escaped inmates, all with serious criminal charges, pose a potential threat to public safety. 24-year-old Mfitumukiza, hails from Rubange village, Murora sub-county, Kisoro district, and is facing charges of murder and aggravated robbery.
Nasasira,37, from Muko village, Muko sub-county, Rubanda district, is charged with aggravated robbery. Hakiza, 27, from Nyarubuye village, Katobo Parish, Nyarubuye sub-county, Kisoro district, faces charges of aggravated defilement.
The incident has prompted the registration of a case of escape from lawful custody under Mityana CRB 1197, and law enforcement agencies are actively engaged in ongoing search efforts.
However, the Mityana Territorial Police has issued a public appeal for assistance, urging individuals with any information regarding the whereabouts of the escaped inmates to contact the police at 0800300118, 0706034158, or 0757719965.
In a statement addressing the public, SP Racheal Kawala, the Public Relations Officer for Wamala, stated the seriousness of the situation and the imperative need for community cooperation in ensuring the swift recapture of the escaped inmates.
The police are working tirelessly to bring the fugitives back into custody, and any information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, may play a crucial role in the apprehension of these dangerous individuals.
The escape from Mityana Prison illustrates the challenges faced by law enforcement in maintaining the security of correctional facilities in Uganda. The incident underscores the necessity for a comprehensive review of security measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Additionally, citizens are encouraged to assist police with any information to the nearest police station.
However, critics are urging prisons and police to consider offering a bounty or putting a price on the escaped inmates to generate public interest and participation in the search.
They argue that offering a financial incentive could motivate individuals with valuable information to come forward, potentially expediting the apprehension of fugitives.
Commissioner of Police
The escape incident unfolded shortly after a cautionary statement from the Commissioner General of Prisons, Dr. Johnson Rwashote Byabashaija. Just a few weeks before the breakout, Dr. Byabashaija had warned prison administrators to exercise heightened vigilance.
The Commissioner highlighted the tendency of inmates to exploit the festive season, capitalising on lapses in prison warders’ security.
The unfortunate escape of the three inmates from Mityana Prison serves as a disconcerting confirmation of the challenges posed during holiday periods, urging them to reinforce security measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
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