At exactly 2:02 pm today, an Ethiopian Airlines plane that was carrying the body of the former Speaker of Parliament Jacob L’okori Oulanyah, touched base at Entebbe International Airport.
The Vice President Jessica Alupo, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, friends and family, amid tears, received the body.
There was a somber mood and a dark cloud of grief hovering over Entebbe International Airport as the plane carrying the body of former speaker of the 11th parliament Jacob Oulanyah touched the Entebbe tarmac.
For many of the people including the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among could not help but cry as the casket containing deceased Oulanyah’s body was being lowered from the aircraft.
The casket was received with full honours as Acholi dancers from Agago District also performed the Bwola dance, said to be the former Speaker’s favourite, as a cultural gesture.
A series of activities will continue until the body is finally laid to rest next Friday (April 8) at the deceased’s ancestral home in Omoro District.
According to the burial program, the casket will be at A plus Funeral Management home where it will stay until Sunday.
On Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th April at 9.00 am the body will lie at the home of the Speaker in Muyenga where friends and well-wishers will pay their last respects and there will be a small service conducted and attended by few people on Sunday.
Tuesday 5th April 2022 at 9.00am, the body will be moved to the Parliament of Uganda where the Rt. Hon. The Speaker will lead the Members of Parliament to pay their final respects and it will spend the night in Parliament.
Wednesday 6th April 2022 at 9.00 am the body will be taken to Kololo Ceremonial Grounds for a State Funeral where His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda and NRM National Chairman will lead the nation in paying tribute to the late Speaker of Parliament as the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda; His Grace Dr. KazimbaMugalu will be the main celebrant.
After the Ceremony, at 3.00 pm the casket will be airlifted to Omoro, Lalogi village; the Speaker’s ancestral home where it will be received by the family and Acholi leaders.
There will be a night vigil at the home and on Thursday 7th April 2022the body will lie at Lalogi for final respects by members of the public.
Friday 8th April 2022 the burial ceremony will start at 9.00 am and the day will be observed as a public holiday.
