In 2019, Watoto Church founder, Gary Skinner welcomed Jacob Oulanyah to one of the child based community homes in the country where the ministry looks after the orphaned and vulnerable in Maya, Mpigi District. COURTESY PHOTO.
Several Christian leaders and pastors in Uganda have paid tribute to former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah who died recently in a hospital in Seattle, USA.
His death was confirmed by the President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday, who stated on Twitter that the 57-year-old was a “good Cadre.”
“Countrymen and Countrywomen. It is with a lot of sadness that I announce the death of the Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah, the Speaker of Parliament. I got information of this sad news at 10.30am, East African time from People that have been with him and the doctor that was caring for him in the intensive care unit. He was a good Cadre. I delayed the announcement so that his children would be informed first,” Mr Museveni twitted.
In one of his last tweets, the fallen speaker of parliament quoted John 3:16, and had this to say: ‘Reflect on what Jesus Christ endured.’
Pastor Umar Mulinde of Gospel Life Church, Namasuba said in his condolence message Monday that Jacob Oulanyah was “a friend and a brother in Christ.”
“Saddened after hearing the news about the death of the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah. As friend and a brother in Christ, I would admit that his death is not only shocking but a reminder to all of us that the life we live is brief and while we live, we ought to do good, be kind to each other, because soon or later we shall also die,” Pastor Umar Mulinde said.
Reports show that the deceased travelled out of the country for treatment on February 4, 2022. The same allege that the Uganda Airlines Bus A330-800 neo with registration code 5X-NIL was used to fly him to Seattle, Washington in the United States.
In his tribute, Pastor Mulinde castigated those who are rather celebrating Mr Oulanyah’s death.
“Once one dies, speak nicely about him, blaming can’t change anything. If you can’t mourn with the grieved, respect them, remembering that soon or later, you shall also head the same road,” he said.
In his tribute on Sunday, The Most Rev Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, Archbishop, Church Of Uganda remembered Oulanyah as a “very committed and generous” person.
The Most Rev Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, Archbishop, Church Of Uganda with fallen Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah. COURTESY PHOTO
“We learnt of his sickness and we have been praying that God heals him. But again it is God who gives and it’s Him who takes away. There are many questions that are being asked about why God has taken him away at this moment when we needed him most. It is only God who can answer that question,” Archbishop Kaziimba said.
“Oulanyah has been a member of our Church. He was very committed and generous. Not long time ago, he brought 100M towards Church House debt clearance. He went ahead and mobilized members of Parliament to do the same and they responded positively. We knew him as a man who wanted a fair and just society, a peace maker, a champion of dialogue and harmony,” he said.
Pastor Alex Mutagubya of The City Church – Luzira, Bishop David Livingstone Kiganda of Christianity Focus Centre Church, Pastor Wilson Bugembe of the Worship House – Nansana among others paid tribute to the deceased.
David Livingstone Kiganda of Christianity Focus Centre Church with fallen Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah. COURTESY PHOTO
When I met you, Pastor Wilson Bugembe spoke of Oulanyah, you said to me, “God doesn’t have a side. He loves all people. But If He’s to choose a side, He chooses the weak side, the suffering people.”
Meanwhile, the former Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadanga, said Jacob Oulnayah’s death is a big loss to the country, his family, friends and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
According to Ms Anita Among, the deputy Speaker of Parliament, Oulanyah appreciated the value of team work, and “held” lawmakers together as a family.
“My brother Jacob was a strict time keeper and a God fearing man ,that is why the 11th Parliament has premised its activities on the guidance of the almighty,” Ms Among said in her tribute. “We did everything humanly possible to ensure our brother gets back to his feet, we prayed too that he would come back to us alive! But that wasn’t to be. God had other plans for my brother our brother! We loved him, but the Lord almighty loved him more.”
According to local media sources, government will issue an official statement about the burial arrangements of Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah on Tuesday.
