crime 3 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Budaka Cop Arrested After Aggravated Robbery Suspect Flees Cells
A police constable in Budaka District has been detained for negligence after a 24-year-old aggravated robbery suspect escaped from custody at Budaka Police Station. The incident highlights ongoing issues with escapes from lawful custody across Uganda, with 789 cases reported in 2025. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/policeman-arrested-after-suspect-escapes-from-custody-in-budaka-5412418
Police in Budaka District, Eastern Uganda, are probing the escape of a suspected robber from Budaka Police Station cells early Thursday morning.
The escapee, Edrine Tibita, a 24-year-old from Buwaya Village in Mayuge District, was held on aggravated robbery charges. Police Constable Samuel Muhumuza, who had just started his shift, let Tibita out to clean the premises but left the cell door unlocked while fetching a brush.
Tibita seized the chance, dashed through the station corridor, past the counter, and fled toward Mbale Highway before vanishing into a nearby garden. Pursuits by Muhumuza and colleagues failed to recapture him.
The duty NCO swiftly disciplined Muhumuza for negligence. He now faces charges under Budaka CRB 144/2026, with the case forwarded to the Resident State Attorney. Other on-duty officers have been flagged for lapses, including poor alertness and shift handover distractions.
Bukedi North Regional Police Spokesperson ASP Wilfred Kyempasa confirmed a manhunt is underway for Tibita.
This case aligns with national trends: Uganda Police recorded 789 custody escapes in 2025, down from 927 in 2024, 1,072 in 2023, and 988 in 2022.