Obongi District in northern Uganda hosted a movie-like episode causing a dispute between the Resident District Commissioner and Police.
More than six suspects escaped from Obongi Police Station on Monday after allegedly overpowering a police officer who had opened the cell to allow them to bathe, authorities asserted.
The North West Nile Region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Ignatius Dragudu, reported that preliminary investigations revealed the suspects—mainly youths—exploited manpower shortages to make their escape.
“They pushed the officer, forcing him to step aside. The officer fired bullets into the air, but all suspects fled the scene.”
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The escaped suspects, primarily from neighbouring Yumbe District, had been apprehended on charges of malicious damage to property, housebreaking, and theft.
Obongi Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, however, accused the police of aiding the escape that took place at 4pm, describing the escape as an “inside job.”
“I have lost confidence in the police, especially the CID department. This is the third time suspects have escaped from lawful custody in three months,” he lamented.
According to Hashaka, a total of 20 suspects have escaped from Obongi Police Station within the last three months, and over 200 police files have mysteriously gone missing.
“As I speak, the CID officer has declared me and my deputy as suspects for impounding 200 bags of charcoal in line with a presidential directive. The police later released the charcoal without any charges,” Hashaka added.
On being contacted, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isiko Balisanyuka, the Officer in Charge of the CID at Obongi Police Station, vehemently denied the allegations.
“Talk to the police PRO. How can my office aid the escape of suspects? And how does the charcoal issue relate to this matter?” ASP Isiko questioned.
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