The Rotary fraternity in Uganda has eulogized late Rt Hon. Jacob Oulanyah as a humble leader whose doors were always open to people.
The former Speaker of Parliament was an honorary member of Rotary and was a Major Donor +5, having contributed US$57,000 to Rotary activities.
The Rotary District Governor of District 9213, John Magezi Ndamira, said Oulanyah was approachable and interacted with everybody which made him part of the Rotary fraternity.
He added that the former Speaker’s generosity through donations to Rotary has gone a long way in improving the lives of Ugandans through Rotary activities.
“When he was invited to commission one of the projects and was getting his first Major Donor Level P, Oulanyah said Rotary was an enterprise worth investing in because it replaces despair with hope,” said Ndamira.
The Rotarians held a fellowship led by the Rotary Club of Kampala Central to honour the former speaker. The event took place at the late Oulanyah’s home in Muyenga on Wednesday, 30 March 2022.
Ndamira further quoted Oulanyah as having said that, ‘it does not matter how much wealth one has, but rather on how they respond to the calling of donating to support humanity’.
The District Governor also extended Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta’s condolences to the family, Parliament and the country at large on the demise of late Rt Hon. Oulanyah.
“He has never forgotten and will never forget the way Rotary was recognized in Parliament courtesy of the Rt Hon. Jacob Oulanyah. I encourage his family to walk in his Rotary footsteps,” Ndamira said.
Past Rotary District Governor, Ken Mugisa said the late Oulanyah had a heart of gold because his actions touched the lives of people he never knew.
“We have lost a person who was never thinking about his home area in Omoro but one who felt he had a journey which he has not fulfilled. Let us emulate him, walk his journey and make the world a better place to live in,” said Mugisa.
Past Rotary District Governor, Steven Mwanje appreciated Oulanyah for his support to Rotary programmes especially the cancer run adding that Oulanyah exhibited the example that leadership is not about titles and positions but about service.
Rotary District Governor- Elect, Hon. Mike Sebalu said Oulanyah had lived a short but fully accomplished life, adding that he was extremely intelligent, an orator of unprecedented levels and someone whose messages were never ambiguous.
“He is someone you could call an emerging leader of our time and those of us who shared with him in terms of generational leadership will definitely miss him a lot,” Sebalu said.
Rotarians at Parliament celebrated Oulanyah for giving staff the space to be Rotarians in the institution and grow in the different clubs they subscribe to.
Deputy Editor of Hansard at Parliament, Helen Kaweesa said Oulanyah espoused the virtues of a Rotarian and was a humble person despite his position as the Speaker of Parliament.
“He was a peaceful man who always preached forgiveness and encouraged us to pray and leave our battles to God. We thank him for giving selflessly and for opening the doors of Parliament to Rotary,” said Kaweesa.
