UGANDA: REGIONAL PARLIAMENT HITS SANG AS MINISTER FAILED TO PRESENT ISSUES AFFECTING NORTHERN UGANDA

State minister for Northern Uganda Kenneth Omona made disaster by failing to articulate issues affecting northern Uganda, his motion on cattle war debt was rejected because of lacking details.

Don’t play to the gallery, we know northern Uganda has been in war for over twenty years, let the MPs from the region speak about the issues that affect the region, but not politicize it.

During an impromptu visit to the home of former speaker of the 11^th Parliament, the late Hon. Jacob Oulanyah L’okori, Hon. Anita Among promised to finish the stalled Manson construction.

GULU -TUESDAY August 27, 2024.    

Big shame and uncertainty grabbed the Regional Parliament sitting in Gulu on day one of opening of Gulu Regional Parliament as Dr. Kenneth Omona failed to deliver issues affecting the Greater North.

After a roll call made by Speaker of Parliament Anita Among when parliament opened at 10,00AM East African standard time, Uganda parliamentary chief Hon. Denis  Obua read the order paper that allows Regional Parliament sitting in Gulu.

Later, Anita Among, the Speaker of August house summoned Dr. Kenneth Omona to present the most wanting issues to allow 315 Members of Parliament present in Regional parliament sitting at the Kaunda grounds in Gulu to debate.

However, Dr. Omona in his presentation of the motion began to deliver his key address on Acholi war debt stalled payment, but the MP presenting Pakwach Emmanuel Onyeto Jamony on a point of information questioned the state Minister for Northern Uganda whether that was the agreed presentation from all the Greater North MPs.

Later on Anita Among, the speaker rejected his presentation on the ground that he was not prepared.

The speaker Anita Among said the house would love to hear from him that the issues affecting northern Uganda should have been Land grabbing, Aswa ranch, Road infrastructure, Agriculture, water value dams, irrigation, Balaalo migrants in North-Eastern Uganda, charcoal burning and forest degradation and Acholi war debt compensations, among others.

When Dr, Omona, state minister for Northern Uganda was making his presentation on Acholi, Lango and Teso war debt compensations, the animals looted and raided in 1987, by the Karamoja, the Karamoja MPs were looking with bemusement as the minister for Northern Uganda says UGX 71 billion was released as per the 2021/2022 financial budget.

The parliament was adjourned at 4.00PM local East African time.

On Monday, it was about 10.00 PM Local East African time, as yet a new set of motorcades part of the convoy of Speaker of the 11^th Parliament, Anita Among entered the late Jacob Oulanyah L’okori’s home in Ajuri village, Omoro District. As the late Jacob Oulanyah motorcades had been surprising his beloved father Nasan Okori 95 years old, two years ago.

At hand to welcome Speaker Anita Among was Nasan Okori, Adiyo Oulanyah the youngest daughter and his second last born including his elder son, Hon. Andrew Ojok Oulanyah, the MP for Omoro County with Kagumba, Bishop Emeritus of Northern Uganda Anglican church of Uganda who in turn introduced himself as head of the family.

The speaker Anita Among went briefly inside the late Jacob Oulanyah’s house and later was directed to lay the wreath on the grave of Jacob Oulanyah.

A moment later, Bishop emeritus Johnson Kagumba prayed for the family of the late Speaker Jacob Oulanyah and the new Speaker Anita Among.

Muzee Nathan Okori later showed Anita Among the late Jacob Oulanyah’s stalled construction of his five story Manson.

“I welcome you the Speaker Anita Among, take this she Ram, as a gift from me. You see the building which was started by the late speaker has not been finished, president Museveni promised to continue with the work.” Muzee Okori Nathan reasoned.

Anita Among, implored Muzee Okori, the late former Speaker Oulanyah, promised with a gesture, “I thank “Apap” father that God has given you health, and I am happy that we got you in the state we have left you two years ago. We promised to support you, we supported  the boy of the late Oulanyah, we gave him job to work in parliament, as we also promised little girl Atim Oulanyah when she finish her study, we are going to take her to study Pediatrics as her father had wanted her to do, we are going to sponsor her.” Anita Among in a low tune reasoned.

She added, “we promised to come here when we are moving parliament sitting in Gulu city for the regional parliamentary sitting in a grater North bring the sitting in Gulu city, because the late Jacob Oulanyah had promised to move parliament to the people and Gulu is home to Ugandans.”

“There also benefits because there are MPs who do not know the road to Gulu and now as I speak the rooms in Gulu Hotels are full. It is peculiar to bring regional parliament to Gulu, because Uganda constitution chapter 95 (2)(a) says Parliament of Uganda shall sit anywhere in the country so long as the place is in Uganda.” She added.

The speaker Anita Among, also commissioned Omoro 87.5 FM radio station which was billed by the late Speaker, while addressing hundreds of well-wishers to gather to witness Omoro FM radio station which she was on air for the first time.

“Today as we commissioned Omoro FM radio station, there is history of the Greater North as I have been saying on Radio just no. while Jacob Oulanyah was saying the parliament of Uganda is of the people’s significance, Committee has been moving to districts collecting views and monitoring works we have been giving funds for like road works, agricultural activities like water irrigation, education funds and livelihood. we want to know where and what have been done with those funds, because Gulu is my home, I grew up in Gulu and I have become speaker,” She said.

She directed the Omoro District chairman Okello Douglas Okao to step down for Hon. Andrew Ojok Oulanyah; he should remain in the District chairman seat, while asking the people of Lalogi to vote for Andrew Ojok Oulanyah, the masses answered for her demand, people shouted in support of both Andrew Ojok Oulanyah.

Douglas Peter Okoa did not respond to the request of Hon. Speaker Anita Among, but he only introduced himself.

Said, “My name is Hon. Okello Douglas Peter… and masses answer in unison… Okao with massive support”

Hon. Okot Peter, the MP for Tochi county, Omoro district advised Omoro people to use the radio to channel their demand especially on the matter of farming.

“Now you have Omoro 97.5 FM, don’t play, use the opportunity to mobilize your people, I know the off-takes bulk market is a problem, now even if it means moving on foot you can reach here to send your request or complain.” Hon. Okot Peter re-echoed.

Can-owira Chalres, the area local leader Pece Pawel village, Gulu city told the Hon. Speaker that their Primary school is facing a number of problems; people just walk in and out because there is no fence to deter them from crossing, if possible let her do something to protect and even stop animals to deter them from school.

“We need solar panels because we have to provide water here, now parliaments have medical treatment here, and we have drugs, but when we go to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, we don’t have drugs what is happening,” Local authority queried.

Akullu Santa Acolla, the Head teacher of the school says the school which Anglican was founded in 1937, and currently has 841 pupils and 41 primary teachers, as you see now the life of our pupils are in danger, because of the classroom are in lapidated building which was put up by the colonial British master,

“Our school is exposed, we built a perimeter wall for us, our pupils still have syndrome above, you see them having only one book as they walk to school, because the people still around school still have Donor syndrome handout characters.” The Head mistress insisted.

Hon. Gilbert Olanya, the area MP for Kilak South, in an interview with the press says they are going to, “petition the parliament to build permanent housing for nodding syndrome children as per President Museveni promised, we are also going to petition Regional Parliament sitting in Gulu to let them give the deadline for Balaalo to go out of Northern Uganda land, we are going to petition the Regional Parliament of Aswa ranch illegal land grabbing, petition the regional parliament of animals war debt, we are going to petition regional parliament on Apaa.” illegal land grabbing

Rev. Father Onen, the MP for Gulu East city, in a bitter note says, Regional Parliament sitting is a blessing for our community. Because during the peak of Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency, our Arties were composing funeral songs, while the Arteries from other parts of Uganda were composing love songs.

This regional parliament is a landmark for the Greater North, because our region has been bleeding for long, this sitting we are going to lay a petition, because there is a silent killer’s disease syndrome wiping out our community.

The problem is Aguu, commonly known as dreaded venerable youth’s groups in Gulu city, but we have an Italian Doctor who arrived in Uganda since 1971, she has been working on rehabilitation of the Aguu venerable youths. She has been trying to meet you.

Dr. Jovana from 2021 has been working to help and give a lifesaver to these vulnerable people.

Dr. Jovana took to the pulpit, introducing Hon. Anita Among as mother of the children because of her kind hearted love for humanity as she observed.

From the year 2021, we have been rehabilitating some of this youth called Aguu, some of them have gone back home, while others we took them to learn technical skills, others have lapsed back on streets, she argued.

“I am pleading to you Hon. Speaker, people of God, to help them.” Dr. Jovana pleaded.

As the speaker answers the issues that have been put forward for her during visitation to see medical outreach one week being conducted by Uganda Parliamentary doctors. She argued that although the regional parliament sitting in Gulu city there are some Members of parliament who are boycotting Regional parliament, says those people do not love you the people from the greater North.

Because of the Homosexuality bills, introducing Hon. Rev. Father Onen, saying this MP for Gulu East Division, is the one who seconded the motion what became known as the Homo bill, because of the family value, religious value, they believe in Biblical value.

The Speaker Anita Among warns that they need to see delivery notes from Uganda Medial Story, how the drugs are being delivered in Gulu Regional Referral Hospital.

She promised to build a perimeter wall as part corporate social responsibility, and went and laid foundation stone to build Kaunda ground perimeter wall.

In the evening, the speaker paid impromptu visits to new Archbishop of Gulu catholic Diocese and Archbishop John Baptist Odama, revealing that in year 2000 when dreaded Ebola strike Acholi sub region, the Archbishop Odama was spending his sleeping night in her house atop of centenary Bank, to alluded Ebola.

“When Dr. Mathew Lukwiya died with Ebola you were with me in the bank, I am to thank you emeritus Archbishop John Baptist Odama.” Speaker Anita Among repeatedly said.

Archbishop Odama welcomes the speaker among, says you are welcome, I want to thank you and welcome you back home solitary again doing great work, when you the members of parliament takes decision to pass the motion to bring regional parliament to the north.

“Let me break the news to you it has been my routine duty I have become the Archbishop to pray for four hours when such a major event is taking place, even when the election is taking place, I will go and vote early in the morning and come back and pray for the leadership as I did today. Praying for you and the regional parliament sitting in Gulu.”