Oulanyah’ s family to front candidate
The Electoral Commission has moved swiftly by setting May 26 as the date for the Omoro County by-elections to replace the former MP Jacob Oulanyah Lokori who passed on March 19, 2022. Oulanyah represented Omoro for 15 years.
The Clerk to Parliament. Adolf Mwesige notified the Electoral Commission (EC) about the vacancy in Omoro County on March 26.
Section 3 (1) of the Parliamentary Election Act, 2005 provides that whenever a Member of Parliament dies or where the seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant, the Clerk to Parliament shall notify the Commission in writing within 10 days after the vacancy has occurred; and a by-election shall be held within 60 days after the vacancy has occurred.
Paul Bukenya, the EC Spokesperson says that the official programme for the Omoro County Parliamentary by-election would be issued after the burial of Oulanyah.
A letter dated April 6, 2022, written by the Secretary to the Electoral Commission, Leonard Mulekwah, all Secretary Generals of registered political parties have been asked to prepare for the electoral process.
“Following the death of the Directly Elected Member of Parliament for Omoro County Constituency, Omoro District, Rt. Hon. Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah and the resignation of the District Woman Councilor Lalogi/Lakwaya and the subsequent notification of the existence of the above vacancies by the Clerk to Parliament and the Chief Administrative Officer, Omoro District respectively as required by law, Electoral Commission has approved a program to fill the above vacancies,” reads part of the letter.
Oulanyah’ s family to front candidate
Recently at Parliament, the Rt. Hon Speaker Anita Among asked Mps from the northern region to mobilize support for the eldest son to the deceased, Andrew Ojok, 32, to succeed his father.
Meanwhile, the family of the former speaker of parliament, say they intend to field one of his relatives for the Omoro County seat. The consideration is either for a son of the deceased or a nephew to vie for the position.
Oscar Labejja a nephew to the deceased says they have since identified two members to choose from, to vie for MP Omoro County
“We only have two people who can stand it with great potential, I cant divulge the names now but one is already involved in active politics at local government level, the family will still sit and decide who will represent “ he says
LC5 Chairperson Omoro District Okello Douglas Peter says the shoes Oulanyah left behind are too big to be filled in by anyone.
This is not the first time that families of elected leaders in office are fronting candidates to replace them, winning out of sympathy. In the 9th Parliament, Proscovia Alegot , 19 won a sympathy vote to replace her father Micheal Oromait as the Usuk County seat, Similary, R
The fallen Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Jacob Oulanyah succumbed to multiple organ failure from cancer he had been battling since 2019.
Background of illness
According to the Minister for Health, Jane Ruth Aceng the ill health of the Speaker started in 2019 when he discovered a swelling in the neck.
She says he took it upon himself to seek medical attention in Germany where it was removed and analyzed, returning positive for cancer. He was started on treatment which he finished in Uganda Cancer Institute .
Aceng says the deceased’s health condition can be attributed to a health condition he suffered while a guild speaker and student at the Makerere University. He reportedly underwent a lymphatic System Depletion that led to the removal of his spleen.
