Prime
Joint meeting drops bid to front Oulanyah son for Omoro MP seat
Mr Andrew Ojok, one of the deceased former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah’s sons
What you need to know:
The family of Oulanyah and the Acholi Parliamentary Group previously made suggestions that the position be left for the former Speaker’s children.
A joint council meeting of all the districts in northern Uganda squashed a proposal to ring fence the Omoro County MP seat for one of Jacob Oulanyah’s children.
The meeting was held in front of Oulanyah’s unfinished house in Omoro District yesterday.
Once the motion to ring fence the Omoro County MP seat for one of Oulanyah’s children was moved by the councillors, Ms Judith Alyek, the chairperson of the Lango Parliamentary Group, defended the proposal on grounds of preserving the legacy of the deceased.
Ms Alyek said the family should identify one of Oulanyah’s sons to replace their father and the chosen one will be presented to the community of Omoro and the entire country.
However, Mr Richard Bongomin Luganya, the Omoro District council speaker, who presided over the joint council meeting, ruled out the proposal saying it was not justifiable and that it was outside the mandate of the local government.
“According to our rules of procedure under Article 20 of the Local Government Act, we are supposed to make pronouncements on what we have power and authority on. I wouldn’t want to rule it out but, this honourable council has no power over this proposal,” Mr Bongomin said.
This comes days after the Acholi Parliamentary Group chairman, Mr Anthony Akol, told mourners that the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Anita Among, had asked him to ensure that Mr Andrew Ojok, one of Oulanyah’s sons, is elected as the new Omoro County MP.
Mr Akol made the remarks while addressing mourners at a vigil at Oulanyah’s home in Muyenga, Kampala, on Monday.
“I have been given responsibilities by the Speaker of Parliament who is newly elected to make sure that one of the family members should be the next Member of Parliament. I think I will deliver that,” he said.
However, Mr Ricky Richard Anywar, a member of the parliamentary group, said they had not met to agree on the proposal to ring fence the position for a specific member of Oulanyah’s family adding that the MPs do not have the authority to choose a legislator for the people of Omoro.
Some of the leaders during the joint council meeting of all the districts in northern Uganda on April 7, 2022. Photo/Tobbias Jolly Owiny
The family of Oulanyah had also previously hinted on fronting either Mr Ojok or Mr Denis Okori, another child of Oulanyah and Katakwi deputy Resident District Commissioner, to take over their father’s position.
According to the family, the Speaker had several plans not only for the constituency, but Omoro District and northern region as well and these plans were yet to be fulfilled. They said a successor from their family is best placed to fulfill them.
But in an earlier interview with Daily Monitor, Mr Ojok said: “I will speak to this [contesting to be the MP Omoro] after the burial.”
The Electoral Commission (EC) yesterday declared the Omoro County seat vacant and said preparations had already begun to fill the position.
During the meeting, the council also resolved that Opit Central Forest Reserve which occupies nearly half of the land meant for Omoro Town, should be degazetted to pave way for development.
The Omoro District headquarters occupy one side of the land while the other is occupied by the forest reserve. The town and the forest are separated by Moroto Road.
In an earlier council meeting and stakeholder’s engagement, a resolution was reached stating that development cannot be only on one side of the road.
Mr Douglas Peter Okello, the Omoro District chairman, said the resolution was being fast-tracked by the late Oulanyah.
“Through Cabinet and Parliament, we want that Opit Central Forest Reserve to be degazetted to allow for proper planning of Omoro District,” he said.
The council also resolved that Northern Uganda Common Wealth Youth Development Centre in Gulu District be upgraded to a national polytechnic and renamed Jacob Oulanyah National Polytechnic.
Mr Raphael Magyezi, the Local Government minister, asked the different local government councils to ratify the decision before it can be endorsed by Cabinet.
“If you ratify them, send them to the ministry and we can adopt it as a working document,” Mr Magyezi said.
The meeting was attended by Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Nakadama, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, State Minister for Northern Uganda Grace Freedom Kwiyocwiny, and MPs from across Acholi region, among other dignitaries.
Tragic
Oulanyah’s death
President Museveni announced the death of the former Speaker on March 20. He died in Seattle, US where he was airlifted in February for medical care. He was 56.
He will be buried today in Omoro District.
Oulanyah was the Omoro County MP from 2001 to 2005 and then from 2011 until his death.
