As days draw closer to the actual burial of the fallen Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon Jacob Oulanyah, locals in Omoro district, Acholi Sub-region are anxious to receive the casket containing his remains.
The deceased was a legislator for Omoro County, South of Gulu and also the National Resistance Movement(NRM)Vice Chairperson for Northern Uganda. He was pronounced dead on March 20, 2022 by the President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni.
His remains arrived on Friday, April 01 and have since transversed several places before it’s final journey to Omoro, Ajuri village where he will be laid to rest this week. The burial program indicates that the body will be airlifted at 4pm
According to local authorities, a procession of 3000 mourners have already been mobilized to receive the body at Lalogi Primary School where the deceased attained his lower education.
Peter Okello Douglas the Omoro District LC 5 chairperson, they chose to land the chopper with his remains at the school he studied to pass a message that giants can be produced from anywhere.
“We are highyy mobilized to recieve the body, it doesnt matter where your child goes for studies,If they concentrate with the help of parents, teachers, that child can reach a huge destination, that is the purpose why the body is coming here,” Okello said
Preparations in Omoro district, the home of former speaker of parliament, are ongoing including constructions works on his house, where his body will lie in state, on arrival on Wednesday.
The casket with his remains will lie at his unfinished mansion for two nights before the actual burial on Friday this week.Security has also been tightened in the area, where at least 20,000 people are expected for the funeral.
Joyce Moriku Kaducu, the State Minister for Primary Education who hails from Moyo in northern Uganda says since the government released funds the place has been cleared and ground leveled to receive the deceased and mourners.
However, there are concerns that the locals are inadequately supported, as they only have 10,000 seats for the burial function.
Okello says they have informed the National Organizing Committee to handle the matter so as to avoid any incidents of embarrassment like locals climbing on trees on the day of the burial.
