On Tuesday, a motion was moved to pay tribute to the deceased in a special sitting chaired by Speaker, Anita Among on. The motion was first moved by the Vice President, HE Jessica Alupo and seconded by the Prime Minster Rt Hon. Robinah Nabbanja.

While eulogising the deceased, Alupo described him as meticulous servant of Uganda whose exemplary and distinguished career spanned his leadership of the 11th Parliament as Speaker from 24 May 2021 up to the time of his death.

“His leadership greatly contributed to strengthening adherence to the rule of law, parliamentary practice, political tolerance and the spirit of humanity. He also encouraged cohesion amongst different shades of opinion,” she said.

However, as proceedings went on in the August House, the  Bukomansimbi North MP Christine Nandagire asked the presiding Speaker Among to grant them permission to view the body of the former speaker. In response, the speaker said she has already viewed the body on behalf of Parliament and even dressed him in parliament.

The deceased was pronounced dead on March 20 , 2022 after loosing his battle for life to cancer. His remains touched ground via the Ethiopian Airlines on April 01st 2022. A sealed silver casket wrapped in the Uganda flag,  containing the remains of former Speaker was lowered from the plane.

Demand to view Oulanyah’s body

However, since the body arrived it has not been viewed by the public at his residence in Muyenga, Parliament and at Kololo where a State Funeral is underway.

The divorced wife to the deceased, Winnie Amoo has also expressed concern over the same. Amoo was recently quoted by the NewVision demanding that the casket is opened for mourners to see and pay their last respect to the deceased.

She reportedly posted on her Facebook page from the US where is currently saying; “What is a Vigil or a Wake without viewing a body, No one has seen him since he ‘so called ‘ landed, and the MP’s are okay with it? We must wake up Uganda” She wrote

The late Oulanyah married the deceased in 2013 and divorced her two years later citing failure to get his conjugal rights and mistreatment among others. The couple sired twins together.

Hon. Remigio Achia (NRM, Pian County) proposed that Parliament marks the 23 of March every year as a memorial day to honour the life of the former Speaker which was seconded by Vice President, Jessica Alupo.

Speaker Among described Oulanyah as a devoted advocate of the principle of ‘Ubuntu’, saying he believed everybody ought to be treated fairly.

She added that his negotiation skills at fostering peace will be missed by the country, alluding to his role in the pacification of Northern Uganda from the LRA.
“I request the persons whom our fallen leader could have hurt knowingly or unknowingly to forgive him just as he forgave everybody who hurt him, so that he can go in peace,” Among said.

Rt Hon. Robinah Nabbanja who seconded the motion lauded Oulanyah for fostering collaboration between Parliament and the executive through prioritizing Government business.

“Oulanyah was a pro-people person. His last task in the House before being hospitalized was the passing of the NSSF Bill which legalized mid-term access to members’ savings,” said Nabbanja.

The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga said Oulanyah was a social worker who worked his way up.
“As the Opposition in Parliament, we had fallen in love Oulanyah the Speaker and not the politician. He was able to draw a boundary between being a leader and being a politician, which is why he had the right balance,” Mpuuga said.

The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs, Rt Hon. Rebecca Kadaga said she had a good working relationship with Oulanyah while they served as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively, in the Ninth and 10th Parliaments.

She recounted how she came to learn that her Deputy at the time was unwell and receiving treatment after she sought his input on the House business.
“It was in 2019 when I realized that Hon Oulanyah was not well. It happened by accident and I was looking for him because we were approaching Christmas recess and there were some items I was looking for on the order paper,” Kadaga said.

“The diagnoses you saw after he became a Speaker are similar to when he was Deputy Speaker. All I can say is I think he was struggling but was also trying to fulfil his obligation to the constituency, the party [NRM] and Parliament,” she added.

Kadaga appealed to the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, to follow up the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act of 2006, which was a result of a Private Member’s Bill moved by Oulanyah in Seventh Parliament.

“In honour of Hon. Jacob Oulanyah, let us ensure that this law is implemented because he wanted it. He was one of few people who moved a successful Private Members Bill in the previous Parliaments,” said Kadaga.

Charity Bainababo (UPDF Rep) says Oulanyah gave her a quick and firm lesson on what to say and not to say as a non-partisan member of parliament.