Prison Staff Barred from Carrying Phones to Work Amid Fear of Jail Breaks During World Cup

Uganda prison authorities ban phones for warders during World CupPrisons spokesperson Frank Baine

Published 30 seconds ago on 22 November 2022By Web Admin 

Ugandan authorities on Monday banned prison staff from using mobile phones during the World Cup, warning inmates might exploit the “excitement” surrounding the football tournament to escape.

“Commencement of the World Cup football tournament on 20th November, 2022 and its excitement may result into prisoners’ escape,” Uganda prisons spokesperson, Frank Mayanja Baine, said in a statement released on Monday.

“Staff must not report for duty with phones, for they distract attention and interfere with the level of alertness,” Baine said, ordering officials to raise security in areas “where prisoners may be watching football”. 

Large-scale jail breaks are common in Uganda’s often overcrowded prisons.

In September 2007, more than 200 prisoners escaped from a maximum security jail in northeast Karamoja region.

In 2006, 500 escaped from a prison facility in the West Nile region of Arua.

Uganda has over 6,000 inmates in its prison facilities, according to official records.