The Gulu Deputy Resident District Commissioner (D/RDC) Tom Oree is in trouble after the residents of Laroo Division Gulu Municipality demanded that he vacates the area accusing him of harassing, torturing and battering his wife both physically and mentally in public.
It is alleged that Oree who was appointed D/RDC for Gulu in the recent reshuffle replacing Andrew Awany who was transferred to Pader, is said to have made a habit of violently assault his wife in front of Gulu residents but what has angered them mostly is that he has also not respected the wife before students and staff of Gulu School of Clinical Officers whom he gives restless time as he batters the wife in the school compound.
The residents have since petitioned the management of Gulu School of Clinical Officers to evict the RDC from their premises where he has been staying for free of charge without out paying any coin for close to two years. The residents say that the existence of the D/RDC who is expected to be a father, a mentor and guardian as well as a leading exemplary of discipline before the student is instead exhibiting what will spoil the future of the students. They have not only requested the school to evict the D/RDC but also petitioned the office of the RDC, LCV and the Police in the area to intervene into the matter.
With no option, on May 2nd 2019, the management Gulu School of Clinical Officers wrote to the office of the RDC notifying Oree to vacate their premises with immediate effect because his unacceptable behaviors which she said cannot be tolerated in any community.
Grace Aninge, the Principal Gulu School of Clinical Officers, who confirmed that the school had hosted Oree temporally on the request of the RDC and decided to stay permanently, revealed in her May 2nd, 2019 letter that Oree beats, undresses and batters his wife last in presence of the youthful students and staff.
The letter evicting the D/RDC reads in part as follows: “Following his unacceptable behavior of beating his wife in the presence of students and youths as well as staff whom he is supposed to be a fatherly figure, a Mentor and a keeper of the law, the institution can therefore no longer tolerate his behavior.”
Aninge noted that the Wife-battering Oree has overstayed in the house where he was hosted in staff quarters on a temporary arrangement where she says that Gulu RDC Maj Santos Okot Lapolo, asked the school a year ago to temporary provide accommodation for the Deputy RDC in Laroo in Laroo Division until his salary arrangements are settled but the stubborn man has refused to get his own house. She says this has inconvenienced the Staff members and tutors who are providing services to the Institution.
This has prompted Oree’s boss RDC Maj Santos Okot Lapolo to condemn his conducts which he said are unacceptable for any community. RDC Maj Okot Lapolo expressed disappointment with the Deputy during a meeting with Northern Uganda Media Club as they celebrated the World press Freedom Day last week.
The Gulu District LC V Chairperson, Martin Ojara Mapenduzi who also received the letter evicting the D/RDC has since condemned the conduct of the D/RDC and promising to involve the police for investigations into the matter leading to prosecution of Oree.
Oree hasn’t yet commented on the matter as he is not often in office and not picking his known cellphone. For comments, call or text us on 0752510225.
