Parliament mourns fallen MP Omwonya

By Henry Sekanjako and Paul Kiwuuwa

Member of Parliament Wednesday took some time off their busy political schedule in their constituencies and returned to parliament to pay their last respects to fallen colleague Stanley Omwonya, the Okoro County MP in Zombo district.

The MPs who are currently on recess preparing for party primaries and campaigns ahead of the 2016 parliamentary elections, described Omwonya as a social, dedicated and committed leader who advocated for the wellbeing of his constituents and above Ugandans.

The late MP Omonya Stanley's Police casket is carried out of parliament after he lay in state on November 4, 2015.
PHOTO BY MARIA WAMALA

In a motion for resolution of parliament to pay tribute to Omwonya, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda described the deceased as an innovative leader who left a mark wherever he worked.

“He dedicated his services to the republic of Uganda, he had unique leadership skills which this country and the people of Okoro County will miss,” said Rugunda.

According to Rugunda, before joining parliament in 2011, Omwonya worked as a public servant in different government institutions such as ministry of trade and industries, Uganda Land Commission among otherS which he highly transformed.

Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda moves a motion to honour the late MP for Zombo district Omwonya Stanley as his body lay in state at parliament on November 4, 2015. PHOTO BY MARIA WAMALA

Celia Ogwal, the opposition chief whip described Omwonya as a committed leader who advocated for better health care and infrastructural development in the country.

“Omwonya has passed on at a time when his people and the country at large needed him the most. He is one person who advocated for better health services in this country. He has been very cooperative with all of us regardless of his political affiliation,” said Ogwal

Omwonya who was a member of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party, died on Monday at International Hospital Kampala in Namuwongo.

The MP, who had just won primaries as the NRM flag bearer for the newly created Oraa County in Zombo district two weeks back, was last seen at Mandela National stadium Namboole, attending the recently concluded NRM delegate’s conference.

“He attended the conference and returned home, but around midnight he started feeling unwell so he went to his driver's room and asked him to take him to IHK.

"Along the way his condition worsened and he told the driver to branch off to some clinic, where he was picked by an ambulance to IHK where he was pronounced dead,” zombo district woman MP Grace Kwiyucwiny narrated to the House.

She further revealed that since September, Omwonya has been in and out of hospital waiting for a minor heart surgery on Monday this week.

Eulogizing Omwonya, Rugunda told the MPs that Omwonya had died as a result of heart failure. 

Speaking during a special session chaired deputy speaker Jacob Oulanyah, third deputy Prime Minister Gen. Moses Ali, remembered the deceased as a resulted-oriented person who executed all his assignments on time.

“He was a well brought up person, very social and reliable. As west Nile, we have lost an icon,” said Gen. Ali.

The MPs who also described Omwonya as a man who hated corruption, asked the government to extend financial support to his family saying he had been drained by the NRM party primary elections.

Omwonya is the ninth legislator to die in the 9th Parliament since 2011.

The fallen MPs include Selina Nebanda (Butaleja woman), Arinaitwe Joy Kaliisa (Buhweju woman) Michael  Oromait (Usuku county) Gregory Matovu,( Bukanga County) and  Dr Stephen Malinga  (Butebo county).

Others were Eriya Kategaya, (Minister for East African Community affairs,) General Aronda Nyakirima (Minister of Internal Affairs) and Dr James Mutende ( state Minister for Industry).

Omwonya who will be buried on Saturday at his ancestral home at Warr Sub County, in Zombo district, is survived by 11 children (five girls and six boys).