Long live Speaker Oulanyah as earthly journey ends

OMORO DISTRICT: 47 days to the anniversary of the late Speaker Jacob Oulanyah’s election into a position he so strongly fought for, his remains were lowered into a grave in Ayomlony village, Lalogi Sub County in Omoro district which he represented in Parliament.

Oulanyah, 56, died last month in Seattle, USA, triggering his long and painful journey to eternity, after a year of multiple triumphs. Securing his Omoro County seat after getting the ruling NRM ticket unopposed, getting elected by a landslide to the coveted Central Executive Committee of the ruling National Resistance Movement party, and ultimately crowning it all by getting elected Speaker of Parliament, number three on the national order of precedence, after the President and Vice-President.

But a humid Friday morning on the 8th of April 2022, which slowly gave way to a hot afternoon inundated with bouts of torrents of whirlwinds, signified Oulanyah’s last day on earth.

Locals who gathered at Lalogi Primary School’s playground, many grief-stricken, scrambled for flags, books and anything with the photos of their fallen MP, as if to keep as a final reminder of the man they loved and distinguished through the melody of his voice and distinct oratory skills.

23 minutes after 5.00 p.m., the Most Rev Dr Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, said prayers as pall-bearers lowered the late Speaker’s remains into his final resting place, with the band playing dirges to bid farewell to a man who rose from obscurity to national prominence.

The police and military bands played the national anthem, and for the last time saluted the late Oulanyah, before the army’s Special Forces Command, in their desert fatigues, fired 17 rounds of cannons as the last ritual to complete the state burial for the late Jacob Oulanyah, amidst mournful wail of many.

Unto dust Oulanyah returned, with his grave and that of his mother sandwiching the one of his wife, the late Dorothy Nangwale Oulanyah.

Oulanyah’s former head of security, ASP James Odongkara, donning black anti-terrorism fatigues, one last time in between sobs, saluted his boss of 11 years.

Many speeches were made, but as is said, a good eulogy requires a lot of emotions. It cannot come from reading a written speech, nor can it come from a heart that did not love a deceased enough.

In his sermon, Henry Luke Orombi, former Archbishop of the Church of Uganda described Speaker Oulanyah as a very noble person.

"When he died, supporters of the Forum for Democratic Change cried, tell me if Oulanyah is not a noble person," said Orombi.

He said that whilst some say that Oulanyah had died early, at the age of 56, the former legislator has accomplished his mission on earth. "You can live for 80 years and go un noticed but have you noticed the earthquake that shook Uganda when Oulanyah died?" Orombi asked.

He added, "The son of the North walked like an elephant and his foot marks are still here. 56 years well lived, equal to the 33 years lived by Jesus."

To the children, Orombi advised: "Everybody wants to see Jacob Oulanyah in you. Keep his memory alive and walk like his children," said the former Archbishop.

Democratic Party President General, Hon. Norbert Mao, a friend for over 30 years spoke in riddles, attracting laughter and applause.

“Sometimes God can answer the prayer the way you want, sometimes God can refuse to answer the prayer but sometimes God decides to do something else that you did not even ask for, so now I am here to send Jacob…Jacob you are listening…you are meeting people like Lokech; Walter Ochora; tell God that since he has not given us what he wanted, let him do something in this country,” said Mao.

He added: “God, please do something that nobody was expecting because we do not know what you want now…since we do not know what God wants, we can only say now God do whatever you want because we know whatever you want will be in our best interests.”

Abraham Lincoln, the United States of America’s 16th President delivered his famous Gettysburg address in which he said: “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the great remaining task before us; that in these honoured dead, we take increased devotion to that for which they gave their last full measure of devotion.”

Oulanyah’s cousin, Dr Opio Oloya, said henceforth, Oulanyah will live in us, and we shall be reflecting his actions, his will, his desires, and his values.
Nathan Okori, the father to the late Speaker, appealed to the Government and President Yoweri Museveni to support the family and relatives of one of Uganda’s most dedicated leaders.

The Speaker has rested, long live the Speaker.