Uganda police Force has suspended eight of their own officers in Mbale district and detained them following the escape overnight of 13 suspects from Mbale Central Police Station holding cells.
Elgon Region police spokesperson, Suwed Mansur revealed that the eight officers attached to Mbale Central Police Station, who were on duty on Wednesday night, have been suspended and detained on suspicions that they aided the escape of the suspects in police custody.
He noted noted that the officers who were on guard are being investigated to establish how the suspects escaped.
The arrested officers are; Detective Assistant Inspector of Police Sam Were and Corporals Godfrey Oyese, Agnes Muyama and Daphine Mukoya. Others are Police Constables Innocent Kiramo, Sauya Mukite, Akola Albriko and Robinson Lagony.
Mbale Resident District Commissioner James Shilaku says that the eight police officers who were on duty had been arrested to help with investigations. He further explained that the suspects are currently detained at Mbale central police station.
The officers will appear before court on charges of negligence.
The escaped suspects had been arrested between February and March this year in connection with crimes that include murder, rape, simple robbery and theft.
These were identified as John Kibisi, Steven Wambi, Rogers Wekesa, Siyili Malo, Joseph Wandera, Joseph Nekamba, Musa Kabugo, Chris Kisibo, Sowali Masaba, Kenneth Moma, Emerson Wandwale, Joseph Nakabi and Peter Manana.
Sources at the police station indicate that the suspects escaped from the cells in the night through a hole they had dug in the concrete wall of the cell.
