Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among has for the first time opened up on circumstances that led to the death of Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Barbra Atim Ogwal (FDC).

Cecilia Ogwal, 77, died on Thursday, January 18, 2024, in India where she was receiving cancer-related treatment.

Among disclosed this in her opening remarks during a special sitting that was held on Monday, January 22, 2024.

“Hon. Ogwal’s health deteriorated rapidly during the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers [CSPOC]. At that time, when we got information that she wasn’t well, I had to step out of the conference to ensure that we shift our patient to India for specialised medical care. Unfortunately, she passed away on January 18, 2024. We tried all we could but God’s timing is not our timing,” she disclosed.

The aforementioned event took place between January 3 and 6, 2024, at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.

Furthermore, Among thanked President Yoweri Museveni for honouring the seasoned legislator by giving her an official burial and a 24-gun salute. This she said is testimony of her remarkable contributions to this country.

Eulogised

And yet, despite such an impressive CV, Among pointed out that the late remained humble.

“She was not the kind of person who craved for attention. Her humility despite her massive profile is a lesson for all of us to emulate,” she noted.

Among also stated that Cecilia Ogwal radiated joy and happiness all throughout her interaction with peers.

“She loved to see everyone happy and would withhold even critical information about her life and health. If she sensed that it would make anyone sad, this is how most of you did not get to know that she was not well because she wanted it treated as something private. It is, therefore, my humble appeal that we celebrate the life of Hon. Ogwal and not to mourn because she lived an impactful, illustrious life and served her country with distinction,” she intimated. 

Present was Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo Chigamony who was Ogwal’s counterpart in the sixth parliament which ran from 1996-2001. Others included her first first-born daughter, Dr Rosemary Ogwal (PhD) who Among sees as the ‘enhanced version’.

By press time, Parliament had received condolence messages from Vice-President Jessica Alupo, Al-Hajj Moses Kigongo, Speaker of National Assembly of Kenya Moses Wetangula, Cuba Vice-President Salvador Valdes Mesa and businessman Ham Kiggundu to mention but a few.