The speaker died at the weekend in the United State of America.
Kampala, March 22, 2022: Members of Parliament from Northern Uganda sat down on Tuesday in Kampala following the death of the speaker of the 11th Parliament on Sunday.
Rt. Hon. Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah died in the United States where he was flown for special medical treatment.
The Omoro County MP became ill soon after taking over the office of the speaker of Parliament in May 2021.
On Tuesday, March 22, thirteen (13) Members of Parliament, all from the NRM party, expressed interest in replacing him.
Felix Okot Ogong (Dokolo South), Jane R. Aceng (minister of health, Lira City Woman MP), Hamson Obua (Ajuri, state minister for sports), Anita Among Annette (deputy speaker, bukedea Woman MP), among others appeared before the NRM electoral commission chairperson, Dr Tanga Odoi.
In their meeting, MPs from the Northern Uganda Parliamentary groups that include 102 members from the Acholi, Lango and West Nile made the following resolutions on the speakers’ race and burial arrangements for Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah.
One, aware of the challenges observed in the burial arrangements for our departed National leader, we hereby demand an urgent meeting with the National Organising Committee (NOC) on the 23rd of March 2022 to address emerging and deep concerns on the burial activities, programmes, and budgets.
We further ask for clear participation of cultural institutions, religious entities and local governments from the three sub-regions of Lango, Acholi and West Nile. The Rt Hon Speaker also doubled as the National Vice Chairperson for NRM in Northern Uganda covering these three sub-regions.
In light of the call for expression of interest for the position of speaker of the 11th Parliament made by the NRM CEC, we hereby resolve as follows:
(a) The position of the Speaker of the 11th Parliament be reserved for Northern Uganda. Northern Uganda overwhelmingly voted for the NRM government in the recently concluded General elections in 2021.
The speakership position was allocated based on election performance majorly attributed to Hon Jacob Oulanyah and regional balance. We have not got an opportunity to serve our country through this position. In addition, precedence of regional balance was recently demonstrated in the EALA by-elections by CEC. We expect the same to be maintained.
(b) The three Parliamentary groups from Northern Uganda have unanimously endorsed all persons who have expressed interest from the Acholi, Lango and West Nile sub-regions. The Northern Region has therefore expressed interest in the speakership position through them. We expect CEC to select one name amongst them who will be forwarded for election. If more than one name is selected from our list we demand a meeting to come up with one name as the NRM flag bearer.
(c) If CEC fails to select any candidate from among them, the 102 Members of Parliament that form the Acholi, Lango and West Nile Parliamentary groups shall not turn up for the elections of the Speaker on Friday the 25th of March 2022. We shall instead congregate at the Rt Hon Speaker Jacob Oulanyah’s residence to continue to console the family and mourn with our brothers and sisters from the three sub-regions.
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