Police and other security agencies in Uganda are investigating the circumstances under which at least 10 suspects escaped from Jinja Central Police Station (CPS) in the early hours of Sunday morning.
According to police sources, the suspects broke out by pushing against the weakened walls of the holding cells, causing them to collapse and creating an easy escape route. Reports also indicate that the detainees overpowered the guards before fleeing to unknown locations.
A detective involved in the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity, attributed the jailbreak to the poor condition of the Jinja CPS buildings.
“Jinja CPS was built in 1928, and most of its structures are now dilapidated. The ongoing rains have further weakened them, making it easier for suspects to escape,” the detective noted.
Some of the escapees are reportedly repeat offenders with multiple prior arrests. Kiira Regional Police spokesperson James Mubi confirmed the incident, adding that 12 officers who were on duty at the time have been arrested and are currently detained at Nalufenya Police Station.
Mubi also revealed that one of the escapees has since been re-arrested and will be charged with escaping from lawful custody. He emphasized that the Kiira Regional Police Command is reviewing security measures at Jinja CPS to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This escape comes just weeks after 11 suspects broke out of Buwenge Central Police Station. Jinja CPS has also experienced major jailbreaks in the past, including one in December 2021, when 17 suspects escaped. Investigations into that incident suggested that police officers were bribed with over Shs 3 million to facilitate the escape.
