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‘Hackers’ edit Speaker Oulanyah’s Wikipedia profile- Chris Obore

Speaker Jacob Oulanyah. PHOTO/ FILE

What you need to know:

  • Oulanyah travelled out of the country for treatment on February 4, with reports claiming that the Uganda Airlines Bus A330-800 neo with registration code 5X-NIL was used to fly him to Seattle, Washington in the United States. The journey was estimated to have cost $500,000 (about Shs1.7b).

The director communication and public affairs at Parliament, Mr Chris Obore, said Tuesday night that some people had ‘hacked’ into Wikipedia and edited the profile of Speaker Jacob Oulanyah.

Wikipedia is a free online encyclopaedia, created and edited by volunteers around the world and hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation.

However, in a statement posted on his Twitter handle, Mr Obore said the ‘hackers’ had logged-in through a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to avoid detection.

"Deputy Speaker Anita Among is traveling to see her boss and is the only person to inform MPs and public like she did when he was taken to the US. Ignore speculation," Mr Obore added in the Tuesday night statement.

Ms Among who has been in charge of Parliament since February when Mr Oulanyah was flown to Seattle in the United States of America for specialized treatment, on Tuesday adjourned the House sine die (indefintely).

Deputy Speaker Anita Among 

Last evening, there were reports that Ms Among was on the same flight with Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo and Mr Oulanyah’s brother. Daily Monitor couldn’t independently verify these claims. 

The Judiciary spokesperson, Mr Jameson Karemani, also couldn’t confirm the Chief Justice’s travel to the US.
Speaker Oulanyah was last seen in the House on December 21, 2021.

Mr Oulanyah was last seen in Parliament in December 2021 and by that time, he had only chaired a few sessions including the passing of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Bill, which permitted the mid-term access to members’ savings. He was elected into the speakership position in May 2021.

Flown out of the country

Oulanyah travelled out of the country for treatment on February 4, with reports claiming that the Uganda Airlines Bus A330-800 neo with registration code 5X-NIL was used to fly him to Seattle, Washington in the United States. The journey was estimated to have cost $500,000 (about Shs1.7b).

The Speaker’s journey and admission outraged a section of Ugandans living in the United States who protested against the trip.

The demonstrations later forced some legislators from the Acholi Sub-region on February 9 to hold a press conference within the confines of Parliament to condemn the diaspora actions. The legislators even offered to refund the Shs1.7b.

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