17 suspects break out of Jinja police station cells

JINJA, UGANDA: An unidentified number of suspects are reported to have broken out and escaped from Jinja Central police station cells on Sunday.

The two guards who were assigned with the responsibility of keeping watch on the suspects throughout the weekend have since been arrested and detained at the same Jinja police station awaiting prosecution.

It is reported that the suspects used a metallic tool to break the padlock at around 8:30 am and then fled off as the cells guards looked on.

Eyewitnesses say that some of the suspects fled through the main police entrance and exit points, whereas, others jumped over the wall and escaped through the regional fire and rescue services department.

Shaban Musonke, a saloon operator opposite Jinja central police station main entrance point says that the suspects fled amidst chanting and some were seen jumping onto random boda bodas that always park beside the neighbouring commercial buildings.

Police authorities are yet to avail the correct number and particulars of the suspects who broke out of custody, however, a detective who spoke on condition of anonymity says that the suspects were 17 in number. He says that they are largely petty crime offenders who were arrested during police-led curfew operations within the week.

When contacted, Kiira region’s police spokesperson James Mubi says that their teams are still gathering relevant data concerning the incident and an official statement shall be released after finalizing the compilation procedures.