Remembering the times of the Lion of Omoro, Late Speaker Oulanyah

Lion of Omoro, Late Speaker Oulanyah

A dark cloud hovers as the Ugandans continue to mourn the demise of the late Speaker of the 11th Parliament  Rt Hon .Jacob Oulanyah.

Oulanyah also Omoro County Legislator, was pronounced dead on Sunday at 1:07 pm by the President, Yoweri Museveni via his social media platforms. He mentioned that the announcement was delayed.

“Countrymen and Countrywomen. It is with a lot of sadness that I announce the death of the Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah, the Speaker of Parliament “, I got information of this sad news at 10.30am, East African time from people that have been with him and the doctor that was caring for him in the intensive care unit. He was a good cadre. I delayed the announcement so that his children would be informed first.”the President’s Tweet read.

Oulanyah, 56, was flown abroad for specialised treatment on February 3rd following a referal by Doctors at Mulago National Referral Hospital where he was first admitted in January.

His time as the Speaker of Parliament was short lived, He only served for 9 months and 24 days.

In May 24, 2021 Oulanyah, was elected Speaker beating his former boss and fellow contestant Rebecca Kadaga by a big margin. Oulanyah got 310 votes, beating Kamuli Woman MP and former Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga who got 197 votes.

In 2001, the Lion of Omoro entered politics after winning the parliamentary seat for Omoro County, in the then Gulu District under the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC).

Oulanyah was viewed as a loyal and principled cadre to President Museveni who sometimes presided and passed the enactment of more impugned laws. He is also known to be a humane, brilliant and good time keeper.

Oulanyah as Deputy Speaker

Oulanyah, an agricultural economist, and lawyer, served as Deputy Speaker of the 2006 – 2016 under Rebecca Kadaga before defeating her to the same post in the 11th Parliament.

Despite being the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Oulanyah did not chair plenary sessions for more than a year in what his then boss Kadaga described as an abdication of his official duty.

He last chaired the house on February 4, 2020 as he remained in his office and constituency.

Lion of Omoro, Late Speaker Oulanyah

Oulanyah told journalists that there was no problem not having chaired the house since February saying he is usually delegated in the absence of the Speaker of Parliament.

He insisted there was no rift between him and the Speaker Kadaga, except for the last incidence when he had to walk to the floor of Parliament to rectify a matter of rules of procedure.

Both Kadaga and Oulanyah had for many years been in a cold war that was visible in 2013 when the the latter claimed  on a radio talk show that he his boss always left him to oversee debates on controversial matters.

Oulanyah had also insisted it was time for him to steer affairs in the August House as the Speaker.

Oulanyah started underground work to reach out to the newly elected MPs ahead of the election  set for May 20, which he won.

Museveni backs Oulanyah for Speaker ship

While battling to retain her seat as Speaker of Parliament, Kadaga was hit with the news that the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC)   had zeroed on Jacob Oulanyah as the NRM flag bearer for the Speakership race. The CEC, which is the top organ of the ruling NRM party.

President Museveni explained reasons as to why the party’s top organ picked Oulanyah.

Museveni told the NRM caucus that there has been consistency in the terms each member from the ruling party holds.

“This time round, NRM had to keep its image. In case of a norm or culture in the party, it has to be followed. The norm has been two terms for each member as Speaker of Parliament,” Museveni said.

Museveni said the position of Speaker should not be a matter of death and life, noting that it can always change hands.

Oulanyah responded, saying  he was not part of the CEC meeting that decided his fate.

“I wasn’t there when they were setting up the criteria. I presented my papers, they later called me to make my presentation and left. I heard the president talk about some of the yardsticks like loyalty and the outcome of the 2021 elections among other issues,” Oulanyah said.

Oulanyah’s Career Prior to Parliament

In his youthful stage, Oulanyah was nicknamed the ‘Citizen King’ because he often put up spirited debates and soon  he distinguished himself as an enviable orator.

Oulanyah first served as a Speaker in 1990 at Makerere University, elected as the Speaker of Makerere University Student’s Guild. He worked together with Democratic Party President, Norbert Mao who was the then Guild President.

He was once battered and his spleen raptured by the police as they repressed students’ strike. Following the event, two university students, Tom Okema and Tom Onyango were shot dead.

Oulanyah worked as a lecturer at the centre and during which time ,he began private law practice at the law firm of Oulanyah, Onoria & Company Advocates. He specialized in training  legal and legislative drafting including peace agreements.

Oulanyah taught legislative drafting and constitutional law to postgraduate law students at the Law Development Centre.

He also served as a Banking Officer at Standard Chartered Bank from 1991-1997.

Deputy Speaker arrives at Parliament on Bike

Oulanyah stunned Ugandans on Friday, May 8, when he rode with swag into Parliament in a motorbike.

The Deputy Speaker parked his bike accompanied by his security detail leaving the journalists and parliament security in sheer confusion.

Political Journey , Parliamentary duties

In 2001, he entered politics by successfully contesting for the parliamentary seat of Omoro County, in the then Gulu District under the no-party system also known as the Movement Political System. He was however a cardholder of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC).

He also participated in the peace talks between the government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels.

In 2006, standing as a UPC candidate, he lost his re-election bid. In July 2006, he quit the UPC and joined the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

In 2008, he served as the chairman of the commission of inquiry into the controversial sub-lease of Kisekka Market, one of the municipal markets in the city of Kampala.

In March 2011, Oulanyah was elected to represent Omoro County then in Gulu District, in the Ninth Parliament, this time on the NRM ticket. He was elected as Deputy Speaker of Parliament on 19 May 2011.

Besides being Deputy Speaker then, he served on the appointments committee vice-chairperson. It approves or reject an appointment.

Background

He was born in the then Gulu District, on 23 March 1965 to Nathan L’okori and Karen Atwon.

He attended St. Joseph’s College Layibi, Dr. Obote College Boroboro, and Kololo Senior Secondary School for his O-Level and A-Level education.

In 1988, he joined Makerere University, the oldest university in the East African Community, where he studied agricultural economics.

He graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in that subject. That same year, he entered law school, also at Makerere University, graduating in 1994 with a Bachelor of Laws degree.

He served as speaker of the university students’ guild during his stay at Makerere. In 1995, he attended the Law Development Centre (LDC), where he obtained a postgraduate diploma in legal practice.

Pamela Achom