OMORO: Jacob Oulanyah’s father has been barred from speaking to journalists for fear of making what are considered controversial remarks about his son’s death.
The Kampala Report has obtained an exclusive interview from Oulanyah’s relatives from his home district of Omoro, who said security agencies have barred them and the former speaker’s father, Nathan Okori, from addressing the media.
“We now fear to say anything or make any comments on the media because we have been warned not to do so,” a family member who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal told this publication on Monday, April 4, 2022.
Following the death of Oulanyah, his father claimed that his son was poisoned.
However, the government dismissed the claims.
It has now emerged that security operatives deployed at Oulanyah’s home in Omoro have staged a roadblock leading to the home and have blocked journalists from visiting the family.
However, the Omoro Resident District Commissioner, Andrew Onyuk, and Aswa River Regional Police Commander Damalie Nachuha said the media was giving negative reports about the family.
“We are under pressure because there have been stories published in the media that portrays the family negatively, and this is what our bosses are squeezing us over, for allowing media to come into the family and just do any kind of story,” Nachuha said.
Information and National Guidance minister Chris Baryomunsi on Friday last week warned that government would track down people who were spreading what he called then false news regarding Oulanyah’s death.
David Ongom Mudong, the Aswa River Region Police Spokesman, said only accredited journalists will be allowed to the deceased’s home.
“We had a meeting and we discussed accreditation and the process is ongoing, I have also raised the Uganda Police spokesman to guide over media access instead of blocking them,” Ongom told journalists on Monday.
Nathan L’Okori, Oulanyah’s father, said he is waiting to get an authentic report of his son’s death from President Museveni, insisting that his son didn’t die of natural causes. L’Okori says that before he was airlifted to the US, Oulanyah hinted at a sinister move to end his life, a piece of information that he says Oulanyah repeated even while in the hospital.
Former speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah will be buried on Friday, April 8, 2022, which will be a public holiday.
On Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at 9.00 am the body will be moved to the Parliament of Uganda where the Rt. Hon. Speaker will lead the Members of Parliament to pay their final respects. The body will spend the night in Parliament.
On Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at 9.00 am, the body will be taken to Kololo Ceremonial Grounds for a State Funeral.
After the Ceremony, at 3.00 pm the casket will be airlifted to Omoro, Lalogi village; the Speaker’s ancestral home where it will be received by the family and Acholi leaders. There will be a night vigil at the home.
On Thursday, April 7, 2022, the body will lie at Lalogi for final respects by members of the public.
On Friday, April 8, 2022, the burial ceremony will start at 9.00 am.