By Racheal Nuwahereza

On Tuesday, the ruling NRM electoral commission started receiving expression of interest forms from party MPs willing to be the NRM flag bearer vying to replace Oulanyah as the next speaker of the 11th parliament, the 13 legislators expressed interest. These include;

1. Current Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Anita Among who picked her forms through her personal Assistant, Athiena Mary.

Having chaired over 76 sittings because the Speaker fell ill shortly after occupying the office, several NRM MPs were today filmed rallying behind the Anita Among as their potential candidate for speakership.

• The West Budama Central MP, also state minister for defence and veteran affairs, Hon Jacob Oboth Oboth.

“I am humble and I strongly believe in God, I’m doing this to avoid meeting Oulanyah one time and he says; why didn’t you try? I am availing myself. Nobody can ever be like Jacob Oulanyah but I have the ability to fill the gap,” said Oboth.

• Hon Theodore Ssekikubo, MP, the Lwemiyaga County.

“I am a member of NRM, and I appeal to my party’s CEC, President of Uganda and fellow Members of parliament and the NRM Cuacus to receive my Speakership bid,” said Ssekikubo adding that he has wide experience referring to his work as an advocate of the high court.

• Also in the race is current Deputy Attorney General and Kyaka legislator Hon Jackson Kafuzi Karugaba who said he is picking inspiration from former speakers Kadaga and Oulanyah to steer the house.

Hon. Jackson Kafuuzi says he is ready to resign from his position should he be endorsed by the NRM CEC and Caucus for the Speakership race.

• The Arua Central Division MP, Hon Jackson Atima Lee Buti has said the vast experience he has amassed makes him the best candidate to steer affairs of the August House through emulating speaker Jacob Oulanyah ways of handling parliamentary affairs.

“I have vast experience of work right from primary school, secondary school and at university. After graduation, I lectured at Uganda Christian University, Arua campus for three years. Parliament needs a research-based debate and it is me to do that. I feel I have capacity to drive parliament in a pro-people direction,” said Atima.

• Health minister, Hon Jane Ruth Aceng who also the Lira City legislator has also expressed interest in becoming the next Speaker of Parliament.

Nomination forms have been picked by her personal assistant George William Ssebamala.

• Hon Sarah Opendi, the Tororo Woman MP has expressed interest in being the NRM flag bearer for Speakership seat through her lawyer Mujurizi Jamil David.

Others are;

• Hon Wakabi Pius, the MP Hoima City
• Hon Asiimwe Florence Akiiki, the Masindi legislator
•  Hon Felix Okot Ogong, the legislator Dokolo district
•  Hon Obua Denis Hamson, the legislator for Alebtong district
•  Hon Kintu Alex Brandon, the Jinja legislator and;
•  Hon Okot John Amos, the legislator for Agago district.

Whereas the legislators from the Northern Region have been campaigning for a regional card consideration, asking that the position return to Northern Uganda, the NRM electoral commission chairperson, Dr.Tanga Odoi says after expressing interest, the names will be presented to the top organ of the party for consideration.

Meanwhile, the leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga has said that the opposition will hold a meeting on Thursday to decided on the speakership race slated for Friday this week.

The position of the Speaker of Parliament fell vacant on Sunday, following the death of now-former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah who died in Seattle, United States of America where he had been flown for treatment.

Whereas the date for departed Speaker Jacob Oulanyah’s burial has not been set, according to the Parliamentary Pensions Act, the day Oulanyah will be buried shall be designated a public holiday.

Section 16 (d) of the Parliamentary Pensions Act sates that: “A public holiday shall be declared on the day of burial, in accordance with the Public Holidays Act.”

Oulanyah died over the weekend in Seattle, USA, where he had been rushed for specialized medical attention in February 2022 becoming the first speaker of parliament in Uganda to die in office.

This stipulates benefits for the speaker and deputy speaker in the event of death or retirement which including being accorded a state funeral.

According to this same law, 30% of the gross salary of the speaker or deputy speaker shall be used towards funeral expenses.

As the highest earning MP in the House, the Speaker takes earns a gross salary of UGX 40 million per month, which brings the annual gross salary of the speaker to UGX 480 million according to sources.

This translates to UGX130 million as 30% of 480 million to cover part of Oulanyah’s funeral expenses, according to the law.

Other procedures to be followed according to the law are:

• Government shall declare a mourning period.
• Martial music shall be played on national radio during the mourning
  period.
• National flags shall be flown at half- mast during the mourning period.
• The casket shall be draped in the national flag.
• The casket cortege shall be escorted by the Uganda Police Force in
  top-roof flash light vehicles.
• The casket shall be carried by ceremonially uniformed pall bearers from the Uganda Police Force
• The body shall lie in state for one day, for public viewing.
• A condolence book shall be opened for signing by political leaders,
  dignitaries and the public.
• An official guard shall keep vigil and a bright light shall light the
  casket throughout the night.
• Parliament shall pay tribute to the Speaker or Deputy Speaker with a
  band in attendance playing dirges.
• A funeral service shall be held in honour of the late Speaker or Deputy Speaker in a place of worship or in a place designated by Cabinet.
• The casket shall be transported to the burial place by a hearse.
  At the burial, there shall be a seventeen gun salute.

Oulanyah’s Biography.

• Oulanyah was born on March, 23, 1965 to Nathan L’okori and Karen Atwon in the then Gulu district.
• He attended St.Joseph’s College Layibi, Dr.Obote College Boroboro and Kololo Senior Secondary School for his O and A level education.
• In 1988, he joined Makerere University where he studied agricultural economics and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1991.
• In 1991, he joined law school at Makerere University, graduating in 1994 with a Bachelor of Laws degree, having earlier served as speaker of the students’ guild at the university.
• He joined Law Development Centre in 1995 and obtained a postgraduate diploma in legal practice but later worked as a lecturer at LDC.
• During the same time, Oulanyah began private law practice at Oulanyah, Onoria & Company Advocates and in 2001, he entered elective politics when he was elected as the Omoro County Member of Parliament as a Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party ticket whereas the country was still in the movement political system.
• Oulanyah also participated in the peace talks between the Ugandan government and Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army rebels.
• In 2006, standing as a UPC candidate, Oulanyah was trounced in Omoro County and later that year, he quit UPC to join the ruling NRM party.
• In 2011, he was re-elected as Omoro County MP in the ninth parliament on the NRM ticket and was later elected as Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
• In January 202, he was in the parliament election re-elected as Omoro County MP.
•  In May 2021, he was elected as Speaker of Parliament, after defeating the former Speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga.
•  On 29 January 2022, Oulanyah was taken to Mulago National Referral Hospital, where his doctors recommended that he be flown out of Uganda for treatment over unspecified illness.
•  On 4 February 2022, he was flown via Iceland to Seattle, in the United States, for treatment.
• On 20 March 2022, Oulanyah died in Seattle, USA.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

On Monday, 7th March 2022, Manoj Murali, the Airtel Uganda Managing Director launched the Uganda Needs More of You, at the Kampala Serena Hotel. Speaking at the launch, Manoj revealed that the campaign would require participants to share stories of how they have utilized technology to positively impact the lives of others. Adding that the submissions were intended to discover, tell and celebrate some of the inspiring stories of Ugandans with whom Airtel Uganda shares its growth story.

Citing the story of Mr. Dickson Mushabe, who founded the Dolphin Fund, a unique crowdfunding website through which Ugandans are raising funds to support nobel causes within their communities, the story of the famous Ella Clear Foods by M/s Catherine Nakatudde, who used WhatsApp to ensure that the meals of workers in Kampala City continued to be delivered to their tables especially during the covid-19 pandemic lockdown and that of Dr. Davis Musinguzi who founded Rocket Health in the health sector which unlocked the power of telemedicine to save lives in many places, Manoj said he is confident that #UGNEEDSMOREOFU campaign would help discover and celebrate more of these Ugandan stories.

He noted that these stories demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit of Ugandans that gets sparked by challenges and opportunities. The stories which represent the power of the many change makers in Uganda who are leveraging the power of technology to transform their communities are expected to inspire more Ugandans to aspire for more.

Manoj revealed that Uganda Needs More of You Stories will be broadcasted on select media houses. “On a monthly basis, the stories submitted will be vetted and the top 3 will be selected to proceed to the next stage. The final transformative stories will receive support for their causes” he said.

“Airtel Uganda is pleased to support this movement of change makers in their causes and scale up their impact and awareness in Uganda and across borders and remains committed to enabling all Ugandans to connect, innovate and do business by providing the widest 4G coverage network, without differentiation, across Uganda and at the most affordable prices,” he said.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

A group of about 25 specialists at Mulago National Specialised Hospital led by Dr John Sekabira; a senior consultant paediatric surgeon, have successfully separated another pair of conjoined twins.

The twins were born in December 2021 to Moses Talemwa, 26, and Hellen Kugonza, 25, both residents of Bulinda Village in Hoima District. The twins who were co-joined at the chest, abdomen and also shared a liver were referred to Mulago hospital by Hoima Regional Referral Hospital and on December 13, 2021 they were received by the Mulago Hospital team when they were only two days old.

Dr Sekabira told journalists that after receiving them, he and the team did a cross examination and found that they were joined in the chest and abdomen and were sharing vital organs like the liver. “We worked hard and made sure that they were out of danger,” he told journalists.

Before the surgery, the twins were put on a specialized diet to gain weight that would withstand the procedure.
“They were fed on special milk and by the time they were two months, their combined weight was 8kgs which was very commendable,” he said.

Dr Sekabira revealed that the surgery took about five hours after which they were then taken to the intensive care unit where they stayed for two days before being taken back to the ward adding that the babies have since stabilized and are feeding well.

Dr Rosemary Byanyima; the deputy Executive Director of Mulago hospital, said they have trained people in different specialities, including paediatric surgeons, to handle such cases of offering specialised surgeries and care.

“We have over time carried out separation of such twins. This kind of care has been possible because through the renovation, re-equipping and remodeling of the hospital sponsored by the government of Uganda. The theatre and intensive care are well equipped and even the wards have been remodeled to take care for such cases,” she said.

Dr Byanyima, however, called for more financial support from government to enable specialized and timely services adding that in the just-concluded surgery the hospital had to spend up to about 21 million Shillings.

Police officer held over criminalizing a suspected case of adultery.

During a press briefing yesterday, Fred Enanga; the Police spokesperson said that Inspector of Police Julius Ogwang, attached to Kira Road Police Station, has been arrested over an incident in which he registered a case of adultery as a criminal case.

According to Enanga, adultery is supposed to be purely a civil matter and Ogwang will be charged with discreditable conduct, which upon conviction, can lead to dismissal from the force.

“Last week, we witnessed an incident in which a shameful matter of adultery where the two victims were arrested and interrogated on camera, in a manner that violated their privacy. Adultery is no longer a criminal offence in our country. Therefore, criminalizing it, is an act of unprofessionalism and abuse of authority, which the force cannot tolerate,” Enanga said.

He cautioned all married persons whether in estranged, complex or sensitive relationships, to respect the sanctity of marriage and use lawful means, instead of smearing one’s reputation. 

Enanga advised that adultery can be used as a ground for civil processes like divorce, separation, custody of children and sharing of property under circumstances where victimized married persons have reported their matters to Police.

“These include complaints of elopement, where one elopes with a married person and stays with them, trafficking in persons, where a person uses their power or positions of superiority and takes advantage of the victim’s vulnerability or disability, and under domestic violence, where the victim is tortured physically or emotionally by the sexual behaviour of a married partner,” said Enanga.

Enanga said the arrest of Ogwang should act as a warning to other undisciplined officers, who look to gain from proceeds of their selfish interests, at the expense of the Uganda Police Force mandate.

“Other areas where the public, in conspiracy with selected officers, criminalize civil matters, are private debts, where thousands are threatened with arrest. We strongly condemn the criminalisation of civil matters in police,” he stated.

Enanga emphasized that the alleged actions of their officer (Ogwang) do not represent the majority of the exceptional police officers, who go above and beyond the call of duty, to protect life, property and the community, every day. 

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni; the NRM party chairman has suggested that leading opposition party, National Unity Platform(NUP) should be scrapped off the list of those supposed to benefit from IPOD funding for refusal to  join the political party coalition.

NUP recently said they will not join IPOD because the platform has largely been used to legitimize the NRM that has no regard or respect for democracy.

“The regime uses it (IPOD) for political gain, far from its intended objective of strengthening Uganda’s multiparty democracy. You will agree that in the past ten years of IPOD’s existence in Uganda, the democratic space has shrunk, going from bad to worse every successive year” said NUP Secretary General Lewis Rubongoya.

The dialogue for IPOD Council of Secretaries General of member political parties at State House Entebbe was yesterday graced by Richard Tadwong, the NRM Secretary General, Gerald Siranda of Democratic Party (DP), Mohammad Kateregga (JEEMA) and Ebil Fred of Uganda People’s Congress (UPC).

Speaking at this council, Museveni who is also the current chairperson of the IPOD urged all political parties in Uganda to work together and resolve the issues affecting the country.

Museveni says despite the political differences political parties should take lead in the promotion of peace and stability in the country.

“Because the idea is, although you have differences, please work for stability by sharing some common positions in a forum and the only forum is this one (IPOD),” said Museveni.

He noted that although IPOD brings together all political parties represented in parliament, some do not want to cooperate with others and therefore, these should not qualify for government funding under IPOD arrangement.

“It should even be put in the law that those who don’t want to be part of the forum, should not share that money since their work is contrary to the spirit of dialogue and unity for the country,” Museveni stressed.

According to the IPOD Council Chairperson, Richard Todwong, NUP is getting more funding than UPC, DP and JEEMA since these funds are allocated to the seven political parties in Parliament in accordance with their numerical strength.

At the May 2019 IPOD summit, President Museveni committed to increase public funding to political parties from shs10 billion to shs35 billion.

“Indeed, the shs35 billion funding was made available and in the January-March quarter, shs23 billion was released by the Ministry of Finance out of shs35 billion passed by parliament in the supplementary budget for funding political parties under IPOD,” Tadwong remarked.

According to the allocation; NRM got shs17 billion (74%), NUP got 3.1 billion (13.5%), FDC got shs1.7 billion (7.4%), DP and UPC each got shs 485 million (2.1%) JEEMA and PPP each got shs 53 million (0.2%)

President Museveni maintained his earlier position that 15% of the total amount should be shared equally among member parties for administrative expenses, another 15% to be allocated to the IPOD secretariat for joint activities for the member parties and 70% be allocated based on numerical strength of parliamentary representation of member parties.

IPOD is an organization that brings together all political parties represented in Parliament with a cardinal objective of promoting meaningful interparty dialogue in pursuit of the peaceful coexistence of national development activities.