A distressing incident unfolded at Jinja Court as an inmate, in a bid to escape custody, was shot and subsequently lost his life due to his injuries at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, as confirmed by Uganda Prisons spokesperson, Mr. Frank Baine.
Identified as 27-year-old Abel Muwanika, also known as Abusale, the deceased’s family has been notified, and arrangements have been made for his burial.
The incident occurred last Thursday, disrupting court proceedings as prison wardens intervened, firing shots at Muwanika and his accomplice, Ashraf Ssenoga, alias Vampire, aged 25, both facing charges of aggravated robbery. The attempt to flee transpired after they were denied bail by Jinja Grade One Magistrate, Ms. Anxious Atumanya.
While Muwanika succumbed to his injuries, Ssenoga sustained minor leg injuries and is currently receiving treatment at Kirinya Prison’s sickbay. Upon recovery, he will face additional charges related to attempted escape.
According to prison authorities, Muwanika sustained a gunshot wound to the mouth during the altercation as he sought cover. Mr. Baine emphasized the grave consequences of attempting to evade lawful custody, cautioning inmates against engaging in such misconduct.
Regrettably, this incident echoes a concerning trend of prisoner escapes in Uganda. Notably, on September 16, 2020, 223 inmates fled Moroto Prison in the Karamoja Sub-Region after overpowering guards and seizing weapons from the armory, resulting in a deadly confrontation that claimed 12 lives. Similarly, in December 2023, three inmates escaped from Mityna Government Prison.
Over the years, various incidents have been reported, including six escapes from Malukhu Prison in Mbale City in 2016, one in 2018, and another six in 2019. Between 2020 and 2022, there were a total of 12 recorded cases of prisoner escapes, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the prison system in ensuring secure custody.
