Africa-Press – Uganda. On Wednesday last week, a section of the lawmakers demanded that the deputy Speaker, Ms Anita Among, explains the whereabouts of the Speaker, reasoning that it would be prudent for them as legislators that he superintends over to be formally informed
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Jacob Oulanyah, yesterday made a public appearance after disappearing from public for nearly two months and allayed fears about his health.
Initially, there was speculation that the Speaker was ill and had been airlifted to the United Kingdom for further treatment. There were also allegations that the Speaker was battling the coronavirus and stomach complications.
However, Mr Oulanyah, without naming specific individuals, accused a section of Ugandans of declaring him dead and celebrating his illness.
“Let us have one standard on which we shall be judged. What we are losing in this country is something called humanity. And we should take it seriously. If somebody is sick, why declare that person dead? I thought the usual thing would be to pray for that person. What is happening to our country?” Mr Oulanyah said.
He added: “If it is true that somebody has been ill, people hold prayers [but instead] others hold parties for sick people to die in this country. Evil is taking over Uganda. We must resist it.”
The Speaker was last seen in public while presiding over the State of the Nation address at Kololo Independence Grounds.
On Wednesday last week, a section of the lawmakers demanded that the deputy Speaker, Ms Anita Among, explains the whereabouts of the Speaker, reasoning that it would be prudent for them as legislators that he superintends over to be formally informed.
However, Ms Among declined to provide a specific answer on the matter and only said: “There is a Speaker in this House, there is no vacuum.”
The director of communications at Parliament, Mr Chris Obore, said Ms Among will continue to preside over proceedings at the House until the Speaker returns.
Earlier Mr Oulanyah held a closed door meeting with the government chief whip, prime minister, leaders of Opposition in Parliament and Deputy Speaker in his office.
Addressing the media after the meeting, the Prime Minister, Ms Robinah Nabbanja, revealed that she had engaged the Speaker to, among others, guide the House to expedite service delivery in the country.
