Notorious criminal escapes from prison

PRISON|BREAK|MURDER

KABAROLE - A murder suspect on remand has escaped from Katojo government prison in Fort Portal, Kabarole district.

Frank Baine, the Uganda Prison Service Spokesperson told the New Vision that Amos Mugume, the escapee took advantage of the heavy downpour to escape.

"He escaped from our COVID-19 isolation center in Katojo Fort Portal. This was after he took advantage of the heavy downpour to break part of the prison wall at the edge of the roof," Baine said.

According to Baine, much as there were many inmates in the isolation center, only one escaped.

Mugume had spent less than 6 months on remand according to Baine.

"Mugume had been arrested and remanded when Uganda was going through COVID-19 lockdown," Baine said.

Festus Bandeba, the deputy Resident District Commissioner and also the chairperson of the district security committee says efforts are being made to have Mugume back to prison to answer his charges.

"He is a notorious criminal who had multiple cases to answer before courts of law. But now that he escaped, the security is trailing him and soon we shall have him back" Bandeba said.