By Spy Uganda
Days after rushing to hold speakership elections, NRM members at the end of this week gathered to celebrate the life of the deceased Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah who died recently in Seattle, USA.
The 1st NRM National Vice Chairman, Alhaji Moses Kigongo who was the Chief mourner said that apart from being loyal to his NRM party, Oulanyah helped to spread its gospel to Northern Uganda.
“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. He did a great job for the party especially in the northern region when they had not accepted the movement in the region. That’s why we won the north in the just concluded general elections,” Alhajji Kigongo said, noting that the NRM vice chairperson for Northern Uganda’s legacy is worth celebrating and that it is prudent for all to emulate his works on earth.
On her part, the 2nd National Vice Chairperson Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga characterised the late Speaker as a hardworking patriot who worked tirelessly towards the reclamation of Northern Uganda by the NRM.
“He was a hands-on person. He had started some programs to consolidate support in the north.” Kadaga stated.
The NRM Secretary-General, Rt Hon Richard Todwong described the deceased former speaker as one filled with humility but was also forgiving. “When he joined NRM, he came with very interesting examples of humility and forgiveness. He would forgive anybody. He would reach out to those he disagreed with on phone and speak to them.
For those who didn’t support him in the last speakership election, by the time he was feeling weak he was calling them and asking to work together and forget the past,” Todwong said.
He added that Oulanyah represented unity in whatever he did, noting that the same attributes ought to be followed by the NRM members to take the party forward. “The Rt. Hon Jacob Oulanyah should be a sign of unity to us. We should forgive one another and reconcile. It will take us far and if we do not do it, we will be hurting our party.”
The NRM Deputy Secretary-General, Hon Rose Namayanja described the deceased speaker as a straightforward person who would not hesitate to say what he meant. “Even in his death, we learn a lot from him,” she said.
