3 inmates die in Masaka prison riot
Apr 14, 2010
THREE inmates were killed when a fight erupted between them and warders in Masaka Prison yesterday.Prisons spokesperson Frank Baine identified the dead as kidnap and murder suspects Joseph Mukasa and Kenneth Turyatunga as well as Ali Tamale, who was on a robbery charge. They were due to appear befor
By Ali Mambule and Dismus Buregyeya
THREE inmates were killed when a fight erupted between them and warders in Masaka Prison yesterday.Prisons spokesperson Frank Baine identified the dead as kidnap and murder suspects Joseph Mukasa and Kenneth Turyatunga as well as Ali Tamale, who was on a robbery charge. They were due to appear before the High Court.
Addressing journalists, Baine explained that the clash started on Tuesday evening after Samuel Kalyamaggwa, also another murder suspect, beat up Mukasa to death, who was the inmates’ prefect, in order to enable 15 prisoners escape.
Baine said Mukasa got wind of the plan, but was killed before reporting the conspiracy to the prisons officers.
“Kalyamaggwa used a piece of firewood to hit Mukasa so that they could escape in the ensuing commotion,†Baine explained.
“Mukasa died minutes after reaching Masaka Hospital,†Baine said.
He said two other inmates, Kenneth Turyatunga and Ali Tamale, died after midnight.
Baine, however, added that Kampala tycoon Godfrey Kato Kajubi, who is also an inmate there, was not among the plotters.
Kalyamaggwa was also treated and discharged at Masaka Hospital for injuries he suffered during the chaos. However, Drani, the prisons warder, was still admitted in critical condition.
Asked why he killed Mukasa, Kalyamaggwa denied plotting the escape and said he was only punishing Mukasa for stopping him from smocking.
“Mukasa was always on my back and reporting me and my friends to the warders that I was smocking in the ward,†he said.
Kalyamaggwa was arrested in 2004 in Kalisizo in Rakai district for allegedly beheading a bodaboda cyclist. The head was never recovered.
The prison staff were also affected.
“Four of our prison officers were also severely hit but it is only John Justine Drani, who is in critical condition,†Baine explained.
“Drani tried to save Mukasa’s life but the suspects had taken control of the kitchen where the fight started,†Baine said.
He said the fighting stopped when the alarm was sounded, attracting prison warders who shot several times in the air to calm the situation.
“I commend the officer who controlled the situation and brought it back to normal in minutes without too much loss of life,†Baine explained.
He said such incidents are expected in prisons since only criminals are kept there. Baine also attributed the clash to the fact that the inmates had lost hope after being remanded for a long time without trial.
THREE inmates were killed when a fight erupted between them and warders in Masaka Prison yesterday.Prisons spokesperson Frank Baine identified the dead as kidnap and murder suspects Joseph Mukasa and Kenneth Turyatunga as well as Ali Tamale, who was on a robbery charge. They were due to appear before the High Court.
Addressing journalists, Baine explained that the clash started on Tuesday evening after Samuel Kalyamaggwa, also another murder suspect, beat up Mukasa to death, who was the inmates’ prefect, in order to enable 15 prisoners escape.
Baine said Mukasa got wind of the plan, but was killed before reporting the conspiracy to the prisons officers.
“Kalyamaggwa used a piece of firewood to hit Mukasa so that they could escape in the ensuing commotion,†Baine explained.
“Mukasa died minutes after reaching Masaka Hospital,†Baine said.
He said two other inmates, Kenneth Turyatunga and Ali Tamale, died after midnight.
Baine, however, added that Kampala tycoon Godfrey Kato Kajubi, who is also an inmate there, was not among the plotters.
Kalyamaggwa was also treated and discharged at Masaka Hospital for injuries he suffered during the chaos. However, Drani, the prisons warder, was still admitted in critical condition.
Asked why he killed Mukasa, Kalyamaggwa denied plotting the escape and said he was only punishing Mukasa for stopping him from smocking.
“Mukasa was always on my back and reporting me and my friends to the warders that I was smocking in the ward,†he said.
Kalyamaggwa was arrested in 2004 in Kalisizo in Rakai district for allegedly beheading a bodaboda cyclist. The head was never recovered.
The prison staff were also affected.
“Four of our prison officers were also severely hit but it is only John Justine Drani, who is in critical condition,†Baine explained.
“Drani tried to save Mukasa’s life but the suspects had taken control of the kitchen where the fight started,†Baine said.
He said the fighting stopped when the alarm was sounded, attracting prison warders who shot several times in the air to calm the situation.
“I commend the officer who controlled the situation and brought it back to normal in minutes without too much loss of life,†Baine explained.
He said such incidents are expected in prisons since only criminals are kept there. Baine also attributed the clash to the fact that the inmates had lost hope after being remanded for a long time without trial.