The President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni says the late Speaker of the 11th Parliament, Rt .Hon Jacob Oulanyah Emeritus kept his illness a secret until it worsened.
While giving his speech as the ‘chief mourner’ at the State Funeral for the deceased in Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala, the President said he only got to know about his condition shortly after he was flown out of the country to Dubai.
According to his medical report, Oulanyah had traveled following complications he suffered to his gut after an hernia operation. The deceased was reportedly unable to eat or drink because the gut was obstructed.
The President revealed to over 1000 mourners at Kololo that had he known the situation prior to its deterioration, he would have directed the deceased to ditch politics and focus on his health. He added that sitting in Parliament for long hours is dangerous to a person with health issues.
“I got to know about his health when he was in Dubai, He was involved in all the politics in Omoro, CEC etc, If I had known,I would have told him to concentrate on his health. That speakership is very dangerous,sitting there the whole day. You shouldnt accept that if you have some health issues,” Museveni said
Museveni advised the public to treat one’s health as a big weapon that needs to be handled delicately.
“Health is a weapon. If you are fighters for Africa, you must pay attention to health because you must use it to fight for Africa. That is why i discourage people from taking alcohol. It is not good for your health.” he added\
Museveni Eulogises Oulanyah
Museveni described the deceased former speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah as a man who used his talents well to benefit the country he worked for. Museveni says he realized the potential the deceased had when he was chairing the Legal Committee in Parliament adding that losing him was a big loss .
“Losing him was a big loss because he was coming up and the country was going to benefit from him, Oulanyah was young but had already made impact. As NRM, we started dealing with him when he was the chairperson of the Parliamentary legal committee although he was still in UPC, but we noticed him and saw that he had potential,” Museveni said
He further described him as a man who broke the norms of sectarianism and tribalism. He explains that despite working toards unity and peace in Northern Uganda, he served as a Speaker for all.
“He broke away from sectarian politics of opposition and made good contribution to the country.I don’t want to hear talk of northern. He was not speaker of north but Uganda. When you hear opportunists talking of northern Uganda, tell them to shut up. NRM supported him not because he was this or that but because was good cadre. He would never have won if NRM didn’t support him. Ugandans supported him because of his patriotism and pan Africanism and not because of his clan.”he said
