Jacob Oulanyah
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jacob Oulanyah | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Oulanyah in 2018 | |
| Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda | |
| In office 24 May 2021 – 20 March 2022 | |
| President | Yoweri Museveni |
| Preceded by | Rebecca Kadaga |
| Succeeded by | Anita Among |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jacob L'Okori Oulanyah 23 March 1965 |
| Died | 20 March 2022 (aged 56)[1] Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Makerere University (Bachelor of Arts) (Bachelor of Laws) Law Development Centre (Diploma in Legal Practice) |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
Jacob L'Okori Oulanyah (23 March 1965 – 20 March 2022) was a Ugandan agricultural economist, lawyer, and politician, who served as the speaker of the 11th Parliament of Uganda from 2021 to 2022. He was elected to that position on 24 May 2021, after defeating his tenacious rival, incumbent Speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga.[2]
He served as deputy speaker of the Ugandan parliament, from May 2011 until May 2021.[3] Oulanyah was also the member of parliament representing the Omoro County constituency, Omoro District, Acholi sub-region, in the Uganda's Northern Region.[4]
Oulanyah was born on 23 March 1965 in the Gulu District to Nathan L'okori and Karen Atwon.[5] He attended St. Joseph's College Layibi, Dr. Obote College Boroboro, and Kololo Senior Secondary School for his O-Level and A-Level education. In 1988, he joined Makerere University, the oldest university in the East African Community, where he studied agricultural economics. He graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in that subject. That same year, he entered law school, also at Makerere University, graduating in 1994 with a Bachelor of Laws degree. He served as speaker of the university students' guild during his stay at Makerere. In 1995, he attended the Law Development Centre (LDC), where he obtained a postgraduate diploma in legal practice.[3]
Career
Following his graduation from the LDC, Oulanyah worked as a lecturer at the centre. During the same timeframe, he began private law practice at the law firm of Oulanyah, Onoria & Company Advocates.[3] In 2001, he entered mainstream politics by successfully contesting the parliamentary seat of Omoro County, in the then Gulu District under the no-party system also known as the Movement Political System. He was, however, a cardholder of the Uganda People's Congress (UPC). He also participated in the peace talks between the government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army rebels.[3] In 2006, standing as a UPC candidate, he lost his re-election bid. In July 2006, he quit the UPC and joined the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). In 2008, he served as the chairman of the commission of inquiry into the controversial sub-lease of Kisekka Market, one of the municipal markets in the city of Kampala. In March 2011, Oulanyah was elected to represent Omoro County then in Gulu District, in the Ninth Parliament, this time on the NRM ticket. He was elected as Deputy Speaker of Parliament on 19 May 2011.[3]
Following the February 2016 general election, Oulanyah was re-elected as deputy speaker of Parliament on 19 May 2016. In the vote, conducted by secret ballot, he received 300 votes, while Muhammad Nsereko received 115.[3]
On 13 July 2019, Oulanyah was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity by Zoe Life Theological College USA and acquired the title of doctor, enabling him to be called Rt. Hon. Dr. Jacob L. Oulanyah.[citation needed]
On 24 May 2021, Oulanyah was voted speaker of Parliament in a race against his former boss, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga and Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju. Oulanyah obtained 310 votes against Kadaga's 197 and Ssemujju's 15.[6]
Parliamentary duties
Oulanyah was the national speaker of parliament sitting on the following parliamentary committees:
- Appointments Committee – The Committee reviews all Cabinet appointments by the President and may approve or reject an appointment: The Deputy Speaker is the vice chairperson of that committee.[7]