“Yes he can do it” – Lira RDC threatens to close Lango media houses

Lango – The alleged killing of Okii-amat son also a former  pupil of Alito primary school, Dickens Okello, 11, by two Indians businessmen last week has caused tension, livid discussions and threats on media houses.

Read more:

1. Family accuses Police, Pathologist as killed son’s postmortem report is rejected
2. “Leaked” postmortem report on murder of 11 year old boy angers Lango
3. How new Lira RDC convinces Museveni to reinstate him

Now, Lira Resident District Commissioner [RDC] Milton Odongo has threatened to close media houses, which he claims are inciting the inhabitants to show aggression to Indians living in the sub-region.

After the young innocent boy was pronounced dead by Police, in their press statement, accompanied with fake postmortem report, local media started doing its first core responsibility, informing the public.

This, like dry season fire, spread across the sub-region, attracting angry debates with few aggrieved locals calling for ‘doing the same’.

The Okii-amat clan head who’s also the Ker Tekwaro Lango Premier, Dr. Richard Nam was first to reject the postmortem report ‘done in his attendance’

This was after the first postmortem report as issued by Police showed Dickens died of a heart problem.

“The Lango media is going overboard with their reporting. I have powers to close any radio station,” Lira RDC Odongo said, on Wednesday.

Constitutional powers/responsibilities of an RDC

The office of the Resident District Commissioner has got its mandate as stipulated by the Constitution, the Local Government Act of 1997.

Article 203 of 1995 Constitution provides for the establishment of the office of the RDC and the roles:

1. To monitor the implementation of central and local government services in the district.
2. To act as chairperson of the district security committee.
3. To carry out other functions as may be assigned by the President or prescribed by Parliament.
4. Also, Article 71 of the Local Government Act of 1997 describes the functions of the RDC as below:
5. A representative of the President and the government in the district.
6. Coordinate government services in the district, advice the district chairperson on matters of a national nature that may affect the district or its plans or programmes and chiefly the relations between the district and the government.
7. Monitor and inspect the activities of local governments.

Now, with all the above powers, you know how an RDC can derive his authority [s] to shut a media house?

“I have the powers. I can direct the army or police to shut such media house,” reports Jimmy Kraft Olot, quoting RDC Milton Odongo.

Even with such powers, the RDC has met criticisms from locals, many of whom requesting him to investigate the cause of death than issuing threats to media houses.

David Munu – the former Alito sub-county LC5 councilor asked RDC Odongo to pause the threats.

Meanwhile, the slain boy will be laid to rest tomorrow [Saturday] in Alito sub-county, Kole district.

Reporting by Jackson Quest, Jimmy Kraft Olot and Frank Oyugi