The fallen Speaker Emeritus Jacob Oulanyah will be laid to rest next week on Friday 8th April, 2022 and the day will be observed as a public holiday.
This is according to Minister for Presidency Milly Babalanda.
The Minister who is also the Chairperson of the National Organizing Committee in-charge of Oulanyah’s official burial arrangements said on Tuesday that the body of the former Speaker will arrive at Entebbe International Airport aboard Ethiopian Airlines on Friday 1st April at 2pm.
“The casket will be received with full honors. A few leaders and family members will be allowed at this ceremony. Immediately after, the casket will be handed over to A Plus Funeral Management,” Ms Babalanda said in a statement regarding Rt Hon Oulanyah’s final burial program.
“Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th April at 9am, the body will lie at the home of the Speaker in Muyenga where friends and well wishers will pay their respects. There will be a small service conducted and attended by few people on Sunday.”
The Minister added that on Tuesday 5th April 2022 at 9am, Oulanyah’s body will be taken to the Parliament of Uganda where Speaker Anita Among will lead other legislators to pay their final respects.
“The body will spend the night in parliament and on Wednesday 6th April, 2022 at 9am, it will be taken to Kololo Ceremonial Grounds for a State Funeral Service.”
While at Kololo, Ms Babalanda says President Yoweri Museveni will lead the nation in paying tribute to the former Speaker of Parliament.
“The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda; His Grace Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu will be the main celebrant.
“A maximum number of 1,500 persons including members of the executive, Members of Parliament, members of the Judiciary, Foreign Dignitaries, Heads of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Family Members and Leaders from Acholi Sub-region will access the grounds.”
After the Kololo ceremony, Oulanyah’s casket will at 3pm be airlifted to his ancestral home in Omoro, Lalogi village where it will be received by the deceased’s family and Acholi leaders.
“There will be a night vigil at the home. And on Thursday 7th April, 2022, the body will lie at Lalogi for final respects by Members of the public,” Ms Babalanda stated.
Then on Friday 8th, April, 2022, the burial ceremony will start at 9am and according to the Minister, the day will be observed as a Public Holiday as declared by President Museveni.
Rt Hon Oulanyah died on 20th March, 2022 in Seattle, USA where he had gone to receive specialised treatment.
See Minister Babalanda’s full statement:
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE FINAL BURIAL PROGRAM FOR THE LATE SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT; RT. HON. JACOB LOKORI OULANYA
28th MARCH 2022
BY
BABIRYE MILLY BABALANDA,
MINISTER FOR THE PRESIDENCY
Fellow Ugandans; as we continue with mourning of our fallen Speaker of Parliament and getting closer to the final activities of the mourning period, I wish to take this opportunity to release to you the full Burial Program.
Firstly, on behalf of the Government of Uganda and the family of the Late Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanya I wish to thank you for being patient and for expressing special love to the family. The family badly needs this solidarity to regain strength and rebuild hope.
Unless otherwise communicated we expect the program to stand as follows:
• Friday 1st April 2022 at 2.00 pm the body will arrive at Entebbe International Airport aboard Ethiopian Airlines.
The casket will be received with full honors. A few leaders and family members will be allowed at this ceremony.
Immediately after, the casket will be handed over to A plus Funeral Management.
• Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th April at 9.00 am the body will lie at the home of the Speaker in Muyenga where friends and well-wishers will pay their last respects.
There will be a small service conducted and attended by few people on Sunday.
• Tuesday 5th April 2022 at 9.00 am the body will be moved to the Parliament of Uganda where the Rt. Hon. Speaker will lead the Members of Parliament to pay their final respects.
The body will spend the night in Parliament.
• Wednesday 6th April 2022 at 9.00 am the body will be taken to Kololo Ceremonial Grounds for a State Funeral.
His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda and NRM National Chairman will lead the nation in paying tribute to the late Speaker of Parliament.
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda; His Grace Dr. Kazimba Mugalu will be the main celebrant.
A maximum number of 1,500 persons including Members of the Executive, Members of Parliament, Members of the Judiciary, Foreign Dignitaries, Heads of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Family Members and Leaders from Acholi sub-region will access the grounds.
After the Ceremony, at 3.00 pm the casket will be airlifted to Omoro, Lalogi village; the Speaker’s ancestral home where it will be received by the family and Acholi leaders.
There will be a night vigil at the home.
• Thursday 7th April 2022 the body will lie at Lalogi for final respects by members of the public.
• Friday 8th April 2022 the burial ceremony will start at 9.00 am. The day will be observed as a Public Holiday as declared by H.E. the President.
In conclusion, the public is asked to take note of the following:
1- The National Flag will continue to fly at half-mast up to Friday April 8th the day of Burial.
2- My colleagues the Minister for ICT Information and National Guidance Dr. Chris Baryomunsi and the Police Spokesperson Mr. Fred Enanga will continually update you on all the ongoing activities;
3- All the burial activities will be relayed live on UBC TV and other TV stations with reporters;
4- The Acholi Community will perform the Acholi Burial Dance as requested by the Acholi Paramount Chief and as guided by security;
5- The Minister for Security Hon. Jim Muhwezi will address the nation on security measures being taken to ensure security and safety during this period;
6- Members of the public need to know that the Speaker of Parliament is 3rd in rank in the country’s leadership and he deserves such a befitting burial, which anyway is legally provide for. Therefore, I would draw your attention to the burial activities planned for and agreed upon rather than to dwell on discussing the budgets.
7- The public is accordingly asked to stay united and calm; and to follow the security guidelines to be issued as we observe and celebrate the final journey of our dear friend and colleague.
I take the opportunity to thank and recognize the special contribution and efforts made by the Speaker of Parliament, the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Health; Dr. Ruth Achieng; the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uganda’s Ambassador to the USA and the National Organizing Committee for the Burial of the Late Speaker.
In a special way I express my gratitude to H.E. the President for accepting to accord a befitting funeral to our brother and friend and for leading the entire program. I also thank the Minister of Finance for the prompt interventions.
Thank you all for your big efforts.
BABIRYE MILLY BABALANDA
MINISTER FOR THE PRESIDENCY
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