THURSDAY MARCH 31 AT PARLIAMENT

On Thursday, the last day of March 2022, representatives of Ugandan performing artistes showed up at Parliament to pay their respects to the late Speaker of the 11th Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah.

The group signed in the condolence book, before paying glowing tribute to Oulanyah, who they said was fundamental in pushing for the implementation of the copyright law to protect performing artistes from exploitation.

 

Bugweri Woman MP Rachael Magoola is a singer-songwriter and dancer. She was part of the group and talked of how important it is to continue pushing for the legislation on copyright.

"It is so good for the artists to come [to Parliament] because the copyright law, the only way it got to the floor of Parliament was that the late [Oulanyah] pushed for a private members bill to pass a new copyright law," she told reporters.

"And we hope that in honour of the fallen hero of the artists, Parliament will go ahead to continue changing and updating the laws that govern our industry because it is a very lucrative industry. But it can only be beneficial to the artists and to the development of our country if it is carried out right."

Musician Ronald Mayinja said Oulanyah loved their industry.

"We have lost someone who loved the entertainment industry, and we pray that maybe the person who has succeeded him can push on to put our copyright law into enforcement - into action, so that the entertainment industry can benefit as Mr Oulanyah has been trying to do," he said.

"He has been the person behind the push for the copyright law yet he has not managed to push it to the end. So we have lost him."

Phina Mugerwa, the outgoing secretary for the Uganda Musicians Association, described the late Speaker as a "freelancer", who "balanced his life".

"Personally, as an individual, what I liked about him is that he was a freelancer. In art, we live the real life, we are not pretenders. He balanced his life."

Outside of Parliament work, Oulanyah was fond of biking (motorcycling) and engaging in gym work, with Ugandan kickboxing star Moses Golola his personal fitness trainer.

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'Effective Speaker'

Also at Parliament on Thursday, former Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda showed up to pay his respects to Oulanyah, during which he said Uganda has lost a "great patriot".

Like many before him, Ndugu Rugunda, too, signed in the condolence book.

In his verbal tribute to the late Speaker, Rugunda rallied young Ugandans to draw lessons from Oulanyah to keep his legacy alive.

"He was an astute legislator, a very effective Speaker of Parliament, a clearly strong patriot and a great pan-African. Therefore, in his premature death, Uganda and Africa has lost a great leader," said 74-year-old Rugunda, who served as Prime Minister from 2014 until 2021, when he was replaced by Robinah Nabbanja.

"So young men and women, double up your efforts in love for your country, in love for our continent, so that the legacy of this great Ugandan can live for a very long time and impact positively on many other people, especially the young people of Uganda and the young people of Africa."

The former chairperson of the Buganda parliamentary caucus, Muyanja Johnson Senyonga, also pay his respects to Oulanyah, and signed in the condolence book.

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On the same day, state ministers finance Amos Lugolobi (planning) and Henry Musasizi Ariganyira (general duties) were hailed for beating the April 1, 2022 deadline for presenting the budget estimates before Parliament.

This was during plenary, chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, when the two ministers presented the budget estimates of the next financial year (2022/23).

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa

Minister Amos Lugolobi

Minister Henry Musasizi Ariganyira