Speaker Jacob Oulanyah working from home, he is not ill – Parliament

Speaker Jacob Oulanyah working from home, he is not ill - Parliament
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah

Kampala, Uganda | URN | The Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah is working from home and he is not ill as some people allege on social media.

On Monday 21, June 2021, social media was awash with stories that Oulanyah was critically ill and was due to be airlifted for treatment abroad.

According to Parliament’s Director of Communication and Public Affairs Chris Ariko Obore, the Speaker is well and having time with his children at home.

Oulanyah last presided over the sitting of the 11th Parliament during the reading of the 2021/2022 budget on June 10, at Kololo Independence grounds. This raised concern from Members of Parliament about his whereabouts.

Oulanyah’s Deputy Speaker Anita Among chaired the house on the day that Vice President Jessica Alupo and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja were approved. Oulanyah was also not present at the swearing-in ceremony of the recently appointed Ministers at Kololo on Monday 21st.

According to Obore, it is a shared responsibility when the Deputy Speaker chairs the house in the absence of the Speaker.

Read Also: Busoga Kingdom reacts to Kadaga’s loss of Speakership to Oulanyah

One of Oulanyah’s assistant, who preferred anonymity, also said that the Speaker’s office is still being set up, which could be one of the reasons why Oulanyah has not been seen at Parliament.

On Twitter, Team Oulanyah, a twitter handle that was in charge of Oulanyah’s campaigns said the information about his illness is false.

“Fellow Countrymen and Women… Kindly disregard the false alarmist reports about Speaker Jacob Oulanyah. He is well and in great spirits. At the moment, just like the majority of you, he is working from home. Please wear your masks, sanitize, and wash hands,” the post reads.