Shock as village chairperson takes his own life in Pader
23 June 2024, 21:09
By Can-ogura Richard
Police in Pader district have recovered the body of the Luzira north village chairperson, found hanging from a tree in Gulnam parish, Ogom Subcounty, on the morning of Thursday, June 20, 2024.
The deceased, Geoffrey Okongo Akena, in his late 50s and a resident of the mentioned address, was discovered by a child in a nearby bush. The village is in mourning, with residents expressing disbelief and sadness at the loss.
“Okongo committed suicide after returning from his garden. The reason for his death is unknown, but it was observed that he had been behaving strangely in the days leading up to his death,” said Bosco Amone, Ogom Subcounty chairperson.
Police in Pader district handed the body over to the relatives for burial after it was removed from the tree. ‘We have given the body for burial upon the resolution from the family members, who agreed that no one caused the death of their family member,” said superintendent of police Jackson Bogere, the Pader District Police Commander (DPC).
Bogere, the DPC, said that Okongo had been talking about death recently before his body was found hanging. According to the police annual report, 165 cases were reported in 2023. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports Uganda’s suicide rate as approximately 18.67 per 100,000 people, indicating a serious public health issue.