Parliament Mourns Betty Okwir

By Hamis Kaheru and Joyce NamutebiPARLIAMENT yesterday honoured the former Deputy Speaker, Mrs. Betty Okwir, for her dedicated service to the country. The casket containing her remains lay on a table covered in the national flag as MPs debated a motion moved by first deputy prime minister Eriya Kategaya to pay tribute to the fallen legislator.Born on September 11, 1948 in Lira, Okwir died on Sunday of extreme stress. She was deputy speaker from July 1996 to July 1998. She is survived by a husband and children.The special meeting of the House was characterised by prayers, standing ovations, minutes of silence, music and the national anthem played by the Police band. The national anthem is not usually sung on ordinary sittings.Kategaya said Okwir had a distinguished career as an educationist and political leader who started as a humble cadre of the Movement before she rose to national status.He said she was elected LC1 chairperson of St. Katherine S.S Boroboro in 1987 and later became LC2 secretary for women affairs before she went for a political course in Kyankwanzi.She was appointed deputy minister for youth, culture and sports in 1988. She was in 1989 elected unopposed as woman MP for Lira district. She was a headmistress of St. Katherine SS Boroboro before joining politics.Ends