‘Jacob Oulanyah Had Cancer Even Before He Was Elected Speaker; He Kept His Sickness a Secret But Museveni Knew About It’

Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah, the deceased speaker of Parliament, was sick for many years and was suffering from cancer long before he was elected speaker.

On March 20, President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni announced that Speaker Oulanyah has died. (Read Story Here).

A few days later, the late speaker’s father Nathan Okori said his son Oulanyah was poisoned. (Read Story Here).

Even the Paramount Chief of Acholi, where Oulanyah comes from, claimed the speaker could have been poisoned and demanded answers from government.

The Acholi Paramount Chief wondered why all powerful politicians from the region die after being elevated to higher positions. (Read Story Here).

But according to ICT and National Guidance Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi, Oulanyah died of cancer and was not poisoned. (Read Story Here).

Baryomunsi also made it clear that he was certain Oulanyah was sick even before he was elected speaker, and therefore couldn’t have been poisoned for his position as alleged.

His remarks were corroborated by junior foreign affairs minister in charge of international affairs, Henry Okello Oryem.

Speaking to mourners at Oulanyah’s home in Muyenga, Kampala, Oryem said Oulanyah had been sick for many years but chose to hide his sickness.

Oryem said Oulanyah had for years been frequenting Paragon Hospital in Bugolobi and Ruby hospital along Lugogo bypass for checkups and management.

The minister revealed that Oulanyah had once stormed out of hospital after undergoing surgery, leaving many at the facility shocked.

He also revealed that President Yoweri Museveni knew about Oulanyah’s sickness, thanks to his sources in intelligence.

Oryem says that even before and after being elected speaker, Oulanyah was sick, but was reluctant to tell others and to also seek treatment abroad.

Weeks ago, DP President Norbert Mao said Oulanyah was ready to die at his home, and could have been compelled to fly abroad for treatmet. (Read Story Here).

Indeed, as Oryem told the mourners at Muyenga, it took the intervention of Museveni, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo and Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng to convince the Omoro County MP to accept to be flown to Dubai for treatment last year.

According to Oryem, Oulanyah would later tell those who had accompanied him, Owiny-Dollo, Oryem and Aceng, to leave him in Dubai and return to Kampala. Days later, Oulanyah was in Kampala to resume his work.