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The Uganda military is using aircraft and foot patrols to search for over 200 inmates who escaped from a prison in north-east Uganda, they said Thursday.

A total of 219 inmates escaped from the prison near the remote town of Moroto, about 500 kilometres from the capital Kampala, on Wednesday, breaking into an armoury and seizing guns, the area's army spokesman Peter Mugisha told dpa.

A soldier and three escapees died in an exchange of fire, and another seven have been rearrested, Mugisha said.

"We lost one of our soldiers when these guys fired back during the operation. We are pursuing them and we are using a helicopter to guide the foot troops," Mugisha said.