Following the recent series of attacks on security personnel by unknown assailants for guns, the Director General of Prisons, Dr Johnson Byabashaija has put officers on alert.
Recently in three separate occurrences, two police facilities and a UPDF mini checkpoint were attacked by unknown gunmen killing three officers and taking away with them four guns.
Including one from his colleague who had stepped away to nearby shops, the latest in Jinja where a UPDF officer at the rank of sergeant was attacked and killed at a mini-checkpoint towards Gaddafi barracks and two guns.
Today in his expression of views, Dr Byabashaija stated that their staff have been put on high alert following the attacks in the statement issued today.
“The Commissioner General notes that there is a steady increase of attacks on security personnel leading to loss of life and theft of guns. Consequently, all staff must be on alert and the safety and security of guns must be taken as a top priority,” Dr Byabashaija claimed.
According to the security alert, security at the main prison at Luzira and other prisons upcountry should be tightened as well as security for prisoners to and from court, hospital and labour.
Dr Byabashaija says officers in charge of prisons should never deploy lone or single officers for any duties whereas they should also conduct night and day barracks and prison patrols.
They also direct that searches for all those leaving and leaving the prison should be thoroughly checked and to this, prison staff must not report for duty with phones, for they distract attention and interfere with the level of alertness.
The Commissioner General says the same directives should be applied during the World Cup period as many prisoners tend to escape as warders and wardresses seem to watch the games.
The alert comes after the recent attacks on security personnel by unknown assailants who killed officers and stole guns.
Earlier this month, armed assailants attacked Busiika Police station in the Luwero district in an incident that happened at around 7 pm.
The armed assailants who were numbering between six and seven or thereabout approached Busiika town and ordered locals to close their shops.
These later emerged from three different sides, two in front and one from behind, and were armed with a pistol and guns and shot at police officers at the station.
Two officers were killed on the spot whereas a civilian who had come to report a case and another police officer were injured.
