The Speaker of Parliament, RT Hon Jacob Oulanyah breathed his last in on Sunday morning, March 20, 2022 while receiving treatment in Seattle, Washington in the United States.
The shocking news for his death was announced by the president of Uganda, H.E. President Museveni via his Twitter handle.
President Museveni revealed how he delayed the announcement so that the late Jacob Oulanya’s children would be informed first.
"Countrymen and countrywomen it is with a lot of sadness that I have announce the death of the Rt Hon Jacob Oulanyah the speaker of parliament. I got information of this sad news at 10:30am, East Africa time from people that have been with him and the doctor that was caring for him in the intensive care unit. He was a good cadre. I delayed the announcement so that his children would be informed first. May his soul rest in eternal peace." - President Museveni tweeted.
On February 6, The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah was flown out of the country to the US for treatment aboard chattered Uganda Airlines Airbus A330-800neo.
Oulanyah, who has been speaker for less than a year, served as deputy speaker for 10 years. He has been in Parliament since 2001.
Oulanyah was elected into the speakership position in May 2021. He was last seen in Parliament in December 2021. He was then flown to the US on February 4, for specialised treatment.
An eloquent speaker, Oulanyah chaired the legal and parliamentary affairs committee that controversially recommended the removal of term limits that allowed President Museveni to stand again in 2006.
The opposition accused him of being a sell out and after he lost his Omoro County seat in 2006, Oulanyah officially crossed from UPC to NRM.
But he bounced back to Parliament in 2011 and was elected deputy speaker, deputizing Rebecca Kadaga, the Kamuli Woman MP.
In 2016, he toyed with the idea of contesting for the speakership but was convinced to stand down for Kadaga by President Museveni during a heated NRM caucus meeting at Entebbe
For the next five years, Oulanyah never got along well with Kadaga, who hardly gave him a chance to preside over Parliament.
He attended St. Joseph's College Layibi, Dr Obote College Boroboro, and Kololo Senior Secondary School for his O-Level and A-Level education.
Commiserations to the family of Jacob Oulanyah. May his soul Rest In Peace!
