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Women councillors beat up Pader District chairman
Pader District chairperson Geoffrey Largo was treated for dental injuries after being beaten by two female councillors who accused him of uttering disrespectful remarks against them.
Mr Largo was left bleeding on the mouth and gums on Wednesday afternoon after being attacked by the councillors shortly after adjournment of a District Council Meeting at the District Council Hall in Pader District.
His attackers, Ms Teddy Angela Anyango, a youth female councillor, and Ms Nancy Lawino, the female councillor representing Atanga and Angagura sub-counties, alleged that the district chairperson undermined their dignity.
The council meeting was convened to discuss committee reports and the state of roads in Pader District for financial year 2018/2019.
Mr Largo had reportedly attended the council meeting to submit reports on progress of several projects in the district and a recent funding the district received from the central government for the operationalisation of Pajule Town Council.
The government last year elevated Atanga and Pajule sub-counties in Pader District to town council status and they were expected to be operational this financial year.
After Mr Largo’s submissions, the two councillors raised several queries on why the district only received funds for operationalisation of Pajule Town Council, leaving out Atanga Town Council.
Other questions the councillors raised were on why the district chairperson opposed the establishment of a seed secondary school in Ogom Sub-county and instead chose Pajule Sub-county and whether he has consideration of appointing a female district vice chairperson.
Councillor speaks out
One of the councillors who attended the council meeting but spoke to Sunday Monitor on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the councillors accused Mr Largo of being biased by taking only developmental projects to his home at Pajule Town Council leaving out other areas.
He said Mr Largo, who seemed to have been rubbed the wrong way, in his response accused the councillors of being against his success ever since he started his campaign to become the district chairperson in 2016.
“Mr Largo said the two female leaders were the only councillors who don’t like him and his progress as a leader. He said he can gladly appoint female vice chairperson but if they [female] don’t respect him, and then he will not appoint any into the executive position,” he said.
He said after the chairman’s remarks, Lawino, Anyango and nine other female councillors stormed out of the meeting, forcing the district council Speaker Justine Ochen to adjourn the council sitting for 30 minutes.
“When Mr Largo got out of the council hall, the aggrieved councillors confronted him and started fighting him; the two started beating him, leaving him with injured teeth and bruised lips,” he said.
The District Council Speaker, Mr Justine Ocen, when contacted, acknowledged the incident, saying that Mr Largo was given first aid immediately.
“As the council Speaker, I strongly condemn such acts in the council. What we want to see is peace among the councillors and district leaders,” he said. He added that the matter is being handled administratively.
Speaking to Sunday Monitor in an interview on Thursday, Ms Anyango one of the councillors accused of beating up the Mr Largo, said she is proud that they beat up the chairperson.
“His remarks that he has a wife and that he should be left alone was very provocative. He was seemingly meaning that we were after him for a relationship, that was a council meeting that shouldn’t have turned into personal fights as he [Largo] did,” Ms Anyango said.
Mr Largo, when contacted for this story, said he was busy and would talk to this reporter later. We were unable to speak to him before press time.
