By Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi
l first came to know Jacob Oulanyah in1989, when he made án alliance with Norbert Mao in order to defeat the then Lt. Noble Mayombo.
Oulanyah, had stood as a Guild President of Makerere University as a Uganda People’s Çongress candidate but made alliance with Nobert Mao who had stood on a Democratic Party ticket and they defeated Mayombo who was a Movement candidate.
l later met Oulanyah in early 1991 at Kampala City Council now called Kampala Capital Authority when he came and testified in the commission of inquiry into the incident that happened at Makerere University on December 10th where police opened fire and killed two students; Patrick Okema and Patrick Onyango and injured others including Oulanyah himself.
In his testimony, he was very eloquent and declared himself as a socialist before Justice Plat a High Court expatriate judge where the late Justice Elue Sembuzi, was the leading counsel.
Other student leaders that gave testimony was the Guild President Mao, his deputy Kiwanuka Wakabi, Frank Othembi and Mayombo.
Olanyah’s name became famous that The Ebonies came with a play, the Wedshock at Theatre Excellesior at Bat Valley where one of the màin characters, a judge, was named Oulanyah.
ln 2016, l was sympathetic to Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga’s camp but Oulanyah sent me one journalist to persuade me towards his camp and when l declined, he took it lightly.
We later met at a dinner he hosted for staff of Government Citizen Interaction Center under the Ministry of ICT and Nátional Guidance, át Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo. We had a good conversation where he asked me what next and l said that l was aiming to stand in Makindye Ssaabagabo Municipality for MP where l had stood in NRM primaries in 2015. He also told me that he would vie for speakership in 2021.
l will never forget how Oulanyah a Legal and Parliament affairs Committee in 7th Parliament that scrutunized drafts for turning Uganda into a multi party democracy and regional governments which have never been operationalized with an act of parliament. Presidential term limits were also done away with.
According to unofficial reports, inside NRM camp include among others Deputy Speaker Anita Among, former Speaker and First Deputy Premier and Ministet for East Africa Community Affairs Rebecca Kadaga, Minister of State for Defence Oboth Oboth, Chief Government Whip Bangirana Tayebwa, Gomba South MP Robbina Rwakoojo, Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo.
We wish them all well.
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