Merit and competence were defined by the Rt Hon Jacob Oulanyah, says former Press Secretary to the fallen Speaker, Sarah Kagingo.
“He was above board and advocated for a people-centered Parliament,” Kagingo said Thursday during the 23rd ”Ideological Clinic” dedicated to the life of the late NRM Vice-chairperson for the Northern Region.
Members of the NRM Central Executive Committee earlier paid their last respects to the late Rt Hon. Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah by signing the condolence book opened at the party head offices in Kampala.
Members of the NRM CEC later went to the Parliament where they held a meeting with the Deputy Speaker, the Rt Hon. Thomas Tayebwa.
There, they also paid their respects to the Late Rt. Hon Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah.
In the afternoon, a memorial service to celebrate Oulanyah’s life was held at the NRM party headquarters.
“We normally troll without paying attention to the things people struggle with,” noted Kagingo during the memorial service.
She added: “The Rt Hon Jacob Oulanyah reserved his right to privacy and chose to keep quiet about his health. We can never chastise him for that.”
Speaking during the same Memorial Service, Capt Mike Mukula said the late Jacob Oulanyah united the entire Northern Uganda to overwhelmingly support the NRM and President Kaguta Museveni.
NRM Deputy Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Rose Namayanja, said the party is in a moment of mourning but also celebrating a life.
“The Rt Hon Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah was a man of character who spoke his mind at all times. While we say he fought a good fight and finished his race, I agree he fought a good fight, but did he finish the race?”
She added: “The late Jacob Oulanyah was a very devoted Christian who trusted God wholly. He was a straightforward person who meant what he said.”
Andrew Ojok Oulanyah, son to the late, said: “”While you are condoling with us, we also condole with you because you have lost a great pillar of the party.”
Minister Chris Baryomunsi said: “Death is real and all of us are destined to die. Even the best doctors cannot stop death. Let’s give our brother the most deserving send-off.”
In his speech, NRM Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Richard Todwong, said the presence of leaders from the various political parties at the NRM party headquarters today is a sign of the unifying factor that the late Rt Hon Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah was.
“When we were growing up in our area, we used to admire the likes of Nobert Mao and Jacob Oulanyah. Hon Jacob Oulanyah would speak with our hearts and Norbert Mao (DP President) would speak with riddles.”
He said they were passionate about how to end the war in northern Uganda.
“Hon Jacob Oulanyah would forgive everybody ever since he joined the NRM party. Hon Jacob Oulanyah death should act as a platform to reconcile us as a party.”
Alhajji Moses Kigongo, 1st National Vice chairman, said besides the many things that the Rt Hon Jacob Oulanyah did, he was very loyal to the NRM party.
“He worked so hard to win support for the party in Northern Uganda. We shall forever celebrate his life for this. The lesson for us to learn from the life of Jacob Oulanyah is to prepare a legacy for which we shall be remembered after we have passed,” Alhajji Kigongo added.