Former Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga addressing the media at Parliament earlier today.
The former Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga on Wednesday made her first appearance at Parliament to mourn the former Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah.
Oulanyah deputized Kadaga in the 10th Parliament between 2011 to 2021. However, Kadaga’s bid for a third term in office was ended by Oulanyah after he garnered 310 votes against 197 votes.
Since losing the seat, Kadaga, who is the incumbent Kamuli District Woman Representative, also the First Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the East African Community Affairs has never attended parliament sessions.
Recently, during the laying of the Ministerial Policy Statements, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the Kiira Municipality MP tasked Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to explain Kadaga’s continued absence from Parliament.
On Wednesday Kadaga signed the condolence book at Parliament. Kadaga described Oulanyah as a committed leader who loved his work and research to ensure excellence at work.
Kadaga and the late Oulanyah severally differed on who should chair plenary sittings and taking trips abroad.
The cracks widened in June 2020 after Oulanyah attended a plenary session to demand that a displeasure motion against him is expunged from the records of Parliament. Oulanyah complained the motion was passed in bad taste and handled in contravention of the rules of procedure.
Oulanyah died on Sunday, March 20 at a hospital in Seattle, United States of America. His body is expected in the country on Friday and will be buried on April 8.
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