Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has paid tribute to the late former Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, on the third anniversary of his passing.
Oulanyah passed away on March 20, 2022, in Seattle, USA, just two months after being admitted to the hospital in February of that year. On February 3, 2022, he was flown to the U.S. aboard a chartered Uganda Airlines A330 for specialized medical treatment after efforts by doctors at Mulago National Referral Hospital proved unsuccessful.
“Today marks three years since the passing of our leader, Speaker Jacob Oulanyah. Those of us who had the honor of working alongside him remember a leader who was humble, diligent, and deeply committed to serving his country,” Tayebwa said.
He noted that, during his time in Parliament, Oulanyah often encouraged members to prepare thoroughly and engage thoughtfully, always emphasizing the importance of informed debate. “As we reflect on his life and legacy, may we continue to uphold the values he stood for and work together to build a stronger Parliament and a better Uganda,” Tayebwa added.
Jacob Oulanyah’s Life and Legacy
Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah was a Ugandan agricultural economist, lawyer, and politician who served as the Speaker of the 11th Parliament of Uganda from 2021 until his passing in 2022.
He was elected Speaker on May 24, 2021, after defeating former Speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga. Before that, he served as Deputy Speaker of Parliament from May 2011 to May 2021. Oulanyah also represented Omoro County in Omoro District, located in the Acholi sub-region of Northern Uganda.
Born on March 23, 1965, in the then Gulu District to Nathan L’Okori and Karen Atwon, Oulanyah attended St. Joseph’s College Layibi, Dr. Obote College Boroboro, and Kololo Senior Secondary School for his O-Level and A-Level education.
In 1988, he enrolled at Makerere University, the oldest university in the East African Community, where he pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Agricultural Economics, graduating in 1991. That same year, he joined the university’s law school and later graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree. During his time at Makerere, he served as Speaker of the University Students’ Guild. In 1995, he completed a postgraduate diploma in legal practice at the Law Development Centre (LDC).
After his graduation, Oulanyah worked as a lecturer at the LDC while also practicing law at Oulanyah, Onoria & Company Advocates.
Political Career
Oulanyah entered politics in 2001, successfully contesting for the Omoro County parliamentary seat under Uganda’s no-party system, also known as the Movement Political System. At the time, he was a cardholder of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and played a key role in peace talks between the Ugandan government and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels.
In 2006, he ran for re-election as a UPC candidate but lost. Shortly after, in July 2006, he left the UPC and joined the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). In 2008, he chaired a commission of inquiry into the controversial sub-lease of Kisekka Market, one of Kampala’s municipal markets.
Oulanyah re-entered Parliament in 2011, winning the Omoro County seat under the NRM ticket. He was elected Deputy Speaker of Parliament on May 19, 2011. He was re-elected to this role following the 2016 general elections, receiving 300 votes against Muhammad Nsereko’s 115 in a secret ballot.
On July 13, 2019, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity by Zoe Life Theological College USA, earning him the title of “Rt. Hon. Dr. Jacob L. Oulanyah.”
In the May 24, 2021, Speaker of Parliament election, Oulanyah defeated his former boss, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, and Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju. He won with 310 votes, while Kadaga garnered 197 votes and Ssemujju 15.
Oulanyah’s legacy continues to inspire many, with his contributions to Uganda’s legislative and political landscape remembered fondly by colleagues and citizens alike.
