SEATTLE-The Omoro County lawmaker, who on May 24, 2021, succeeded Hon Rebecca Kadaga as the 11th Speaker of the August House, passed away at 10:30am this Sunday.
In a special announcement posted on Twitter, President Museveni observed, “Countrymen and Countrywomen. It is with a lot of sadness that I announce the death of the Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah, the Speaker of Parliament.
“I got information of this sad news at 10.30am, East African time from People that have been with him and the doctor that was caring for him in the intensive care unit,”He added.
The President did not disclose the cause of death. However, close associates said Oulanya had stage 4 cancer when he was rushed to Seattle, United States.
The Speaker had been hospitalized since February 3, 2022 when he left Uganda on a chartered Uganda Airlines Flight UR 2, plane registration number 5x-NIL. It preceded a 7-day week hospitalization in Uganda.
Deputy Speaker, Chief Justice's visit
On March 15, 2022, deputy Speaker Ms Anita Among alongside the Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, the Minister of Health Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the Democratic Party president Mr Nobert Mao and some family members of Oulanyah travelled to the US to check on him.
Ms Among, on March 18, tweeted saying the Speaker “…is receiving and responding to treatment under the close attention of his doctors. Let us keep him in prayers for a speedy and complete recovery. I urge the public to respect his privacy and that of the family.”
Elected Speaker
The Omoro County MP (Omoro District) was elected Speaker on May 24, 2021, after defeating the former Speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga. He served as Deputy Speaker of Parliament from May 2011 until May 2021.
Oulanyah was born in the then Gulu District, on March 23, 1965 to Nathan L'okori and Karen Atwon. He attended St. Joseph's College Layibi, Dr Obote College Boroboro, and Kololo Senior Secondary School for his O-Level and A-Level education.
Speaker Jacob Oulanyah. (Photo by Internet).