By Otai James
At least 17 suspects facing charges of defilement, arson, drug possession and robbery have escaped from Rwampara Central Police Station.
The detainees dug their way out of the male police cell on Sunday at around 1am and escaped. The police station is located in Buteraniro Nyeihanga, Rwampara district in western Uganda.
Jane Muhindo, the RDC Rwampara district, confirmed the incident. She said it is suspected that the escapees had someone helping them.
“We suspect that it was a planned criminality where a fellow criminal from outside helped the suspects to create a hole by hitting the wall made up of bricks creating a hole which eased the escape,” Muhindo said while not explaining what tool could have been used to break down the wall.
Jane Muhindo is the resident district commissioner for Rwampara
She went on to reveal, “Some of the suspects have been traced and rearrested and the officers who worked night duty on Sunday are being investigated”. She declined to reveal how many suspects have been re-arrested.
Suspects that escaped from custody are Twimatsiko Ignatius, Aronda Salim, Ariho Erick, Muhumuza Barcklays, Tumwekwatse Yakobu, Nyesiga Jackson, Tujunirwe Medard, Baguma Rogers, Akampa Benson, Turinawe Laubel, Atukunda Lawrence, Mwijukye Joram, Tusiime Akara, Muhanguzi Ronald, Kamugisha Denis and two others.
Akankwasa Anthony, one of the police officers who worked night duty on Sunday, narrates that, “PC Wanaria Christine No. 51832 heard the Rwampara police dog barking unusually, when she came out of the Counter Office to see what was happening, she realised that the male police cell was broken and suspects had escaped through the hole they dug from inside the cell”.
The District Police Commander, Scene of Crime officers, and Criminal Investigation Division team, visited the scene and initiated a search operation to re-arrest the suspects.
Disciplinary action has been taken against the officers on duty for duty neglecting, and more interrogation in the matter.
Rwampara central police faces the Mbarara-Kabale highway and while the cells at the back face a bushy area. Duty officers often focus on the front of the station since the cells are often locked.