The Uganda Prisons Service Commissioner General, Johnson Byabashaija says they are to reward any citizen who helps capture some of the escapees who fled from Singila prison in Moroto district a week back.
SEE ALSO: Happening Now: UPDF Gunship in shootout with Moroto prison escapees
Byabashaija who today paid homage to the troubled prison tasked the locals to join the security forces in man hunting the escapees. He also pledged a bounty of UGX 500,000 for every inmate captured alive and UGX 1.5 million for a retrieved gun.
Addressing the prisons parade on Tuesday morning, Byabashaija vowed to capture the escapees. “I want to tell the escapees that it’s just a matter of time. We are going to get them. They made a mistake. Remember we recaptured those who escaped in Arua, Kibuku and other places,” he said. “These ones we will get them. Uganda is a small country. Even in you escape to a neighbouring country, we will get you by collaboration. And every day we are picking one by one,” he added.
He also told the community that he had a cash offer for those who collaborate with the authorities. “I have put a bounty of UGX 500,000 per inmate and UGX 1.5 million per gun recovered,” he said.
By Tuesday, the UPDF said they had recaptured about 14 inmates alive and put 7 out of action. Brig. Flavia Byekwaso said by all means these escapees would be got due to the harsh conditions of the wilderness which they fled to. She also adds that the UPDF had already deployed across porous border points which the escapees would have used to cross to neighbouring Kenya. Singila prison harbours high profile criminals on charges of possession of weapon and murder. It is claimed that the prisoners fled having cited ill facilitation and the COVID-19 which had struck the entire cells.