Omoro County

Your Excellency, the President, and My Lord, the Chief Justice. My name is Peter Okot, Member of Parliament for Tochi County in Omoro District. I rise under Rule 5 (8) of the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure to move that Hon. Norbert Mao, Member of Parliament for Laroo-Pece, do take the Chair of this Parliament as the Speaker. My Lord, the Chief Justice, let me give a brief background and qualifications of Hon. Norbert Mao. Hon. Norbert Mao was born in 1967 to a mother from Isingiro and a father from Gulu. He spent most of his formative years in Jinja and had most of his secondary education in the central region. That is why he is commonly referred to as “Uganda Made Simple.” My Lord, Norbert Mao had a humble childhood in Lacor and Bwobo, where he benefited from the kindness of many, some of whom were total strangers. As a little boy, he herded goats, helped on the farm, and worked as a cobbler, bicycle repairer, and as an apprentice to a tinsmith. His primary school then had no P.7 class, but on account of his natural brilliance, he went on to do his Primary Leaving Examination at Magwa Primary School, from where he moved on to Wairaka College for two years and then went to Namilyango College, where he sat for both his O and A-level examination before joining Makerere University. His exceptional communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills were recognised early by his peers. While in primary school and even at secondary level, he participated in many debates and seminars where he excelled on account of the courage, clarity, and conviction with which he presented his case. At Makerere University, he was elected President of the Student Guild at a time when coming from Northern Uganda carried a big stigma. He overcame that stigma and rallied students to champion a campaign against the World Bank-inspired policies, referred to as the Structural Adjustment Programme. However, in reality, it required the Governments in the underdeveloped countries to drastically reduce spending on health, education, and livelihoods. The byword of those policies was cost-sharing. The fierce disagreement with the Government led to a strike in which two students lost their lives and many were seriously injured when the police was deployed on campus on 10 December 1990. One of those who was seriously injured was our own late Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah. May his soul rest in peace. Hon. Mao is ever a bridge-builder and peacemaker. Norbert Mao at just 23 years old at that time, reached out to State House and secured an appointment to meet President

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I join my colleagues in thanking the chairperson of the committee. Over a decade ago, the Government came up with a strategy for rationalising ICT services, in which they consolidated services such as licensing, internet, and data centre services to save money. The committee has requested Shs 4 billion, and yet they want to set up data centres. I want to know how they are liaising with the National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) to save on costs for the Government. Secondly, I agree and thank the committee for proposing the reduction in the ratio between the prosecutors and the magistrates’ courts. Three years ago, the Government opened the magistrates court in Omoro District, but people have to travel 48 kilometres to go and meet a prosecutor and that has caused so many delays and challenged ease of access to justice. I agree with the committee that we allocate the money so as to reduce the ratio between the prosecutors and the magistrates’ courts.

We must go through the supplementary process. I remember the case of Omoro District in Acholi Sub-region, at one time, they had drastically understated their revenue, and they were failing to operate. When they brought the matter to our attention, we advised them - even in Gulu City, we advised them to correct their mistakes. Now, they are getting their revenues on time. I would like to appeal to colleagues that - I know it is not good to - this is a report of the Government, but it did not talk about corruption in local governments. Yes, do you want to clarify on corruption?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the minister for the report. I would also like to bring to the minister’s attention that the slow pace of renewal of national IDs is not necessarily a result of extortion. For example, in my area in Omoro District, most people are not turning up for renewal of their national IDs because they have deposited their national IDs with moneylenders. If you are to go for renewal, you need the expired national ID, which most people cannot do. The ministry needs to do something. The President was categorically clear that no moneylender should accept national IDs as collateral.

Vdc D.ocrlptlon famrr {UOil-OOO'I 906 Namuhrmba District 35,L42,253 907 Napak Dhtrict 18.866,603 908 Nebbi District 31.883.866 909 Nsora District 24,572,193 910 Ntoroko District 22,L47,884 911 Nhrnearno District 60.o20.269 912 Nworra District 24.828.262 913 Obong District L3,867,997 9L4 Omoro District 27.841.869 915 Ohrke District 20.524.336 916 Oyan District 42,987,128 9L7 Pader Dhtrict 34.974.847 918 Pat<wach District 23.035.815 919 Pallisa District 40,860,992 920 Rakai District 40.361.351 92t Rubanda District 34.O45.767 922 Rubirizi District 25,548.389 923 Rukiga District 23.005.023 924 Rukungiri District 6.222.L97 925 Rwanpara District 22.200,947 926 Sembabule District 35.699.011 927 Serere District 36.469.+64 928 Sheerna District 32.418,391 929 Sironko District 37.84t.375 930 Soroti District 24.764.341 931 Terrgo District 26,419,590 932 Tororo District 65.667.982 933 t Wakiso District 93.497.965 934 Yumbe District -4 2F 48.948.006 935 District \ 28,680.777 $ i s + B lPa6e

Vot DG.-|DtLE rrou*[UqX0O'l 889 Masindi District 2.283.561 890 Mafruse District 3.74r.314 891 Mbale District 4.258.404 892 llfbarara District 3.574.783 893 Mitooma District 5.833.974 894 Mitlrana District 3.115.081 895 Moroto District t.903.749 896 Morro District 2.558.666 897 Mpigi District 2.989.567 898 Muberrde District 3.891.823 899 Mukono Distrist 3,57L.739 900 Nabilahrk District 2.235.822 901 Nakapiripirit District 3,L68.O24 902 Nakaseke District s.298.902 903 Nakasongola District 2,768.377 904 Nanarringo District 2.762,795 905 Naraisindwa District 3,760.490 906 Nanuhrmba District 2,790.205 907 Napak District 2.767.585 908 Nebbi Distf,ict 2.919,540 909 Ngora District 2.452.235 910 Ntoroko District 2,4L7,457 911 Nhrngamo District 5,001.791 9L2 Nrvoya District 4,385.464 913 Obong District 1,426,37L 914 Omoro District 4,102.293 915 Otulc District 2,067.969 916 Orram District 4,560.542 9L7 Pader Distrist 3,065.637 918 Pakcrach District 2,329.327 919 Pallisa District 2.5s7.798 920 Rakai District 3,859,310 92L Rubanda Distrirct 6,526,22L 922 Rubirizi District 3,908,2L7 923 Rukiga District .Gx, 7rtl 1,951,129 924 Bukungiri DisEict ( lflt I 4,367,466 925 Rwanpara District tfi \LIPV 3.910.185 Sembabule District 797 901 't I ,i , \$ 4, / -$ ge s 'd$t t t

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity. I join colleagues in thanking the chairperson of the committee for his report on the Floor. I want to start with the issue of scaling up electricity in rural areas. I want to agree to the proposal of giving money for rural electrification, the Shs 20 billion request. However, the proposal of Shs 20 billion may not be adequate. I would like to request that we consider in detail the proposal of Shs 1 billion per district for the connectivity of electricity. When you look at the matter of electricity, it comes along to complement a lot in terms of what the Government is trying to do even now, as far as household income is concerned. For us to realise industrialisation, we need electricity. There are a number of districts in rural areas where we have this challenge very heavy. For instance, in Omoro District, you find new value addition equipment in the community. I have 17 new value-addition equipment, but they are not connected to power, and they are redundant. Mr Speaker, 29 storage facilities – (Member timed out.)

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I thank the committee for the good report they have presented. I want to speak on two areas: One, we thank the Government that there are many projects that have gone to the districts. There is PDM, there’s Emyooga , the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) and several others. All these projects are undertaken by the population and in different enterprises. Minus supervision and extension support, we may not realise much with this project. Looking into the report, we have very few extension workers, which are very critical staff in terms of providing support to the farmers and other interventions. For example, in Omoro District, we have one extension staff for three subcounties. In the end, they may not do much, and the results of the works, may not come. Secondly, when you visit schools, there is complete disparity in terms of the arts teachers and the science teachers. There are even caucuses in schools. There is a caucus of science teachers, and there is a caucus of arts teachers. When, in the report, the ministry commits that they are going to close the gap by progressively increasing the salaries of those whose salaries are low, but with that commitment, you still see a gap of Shs 600 billion not provided for. How then do we get to believe that this commitment is going to be realised? I think this is an area that we have to look into, because of that, and emphasis on science, if you look at admission and the preferences of students these days, every other student now wants to go for a science combination in A-Level. We are yet to see what that will result into when it comes to examination. Are they going because that is what they want or they are going because that is where the emphasis is and that is where the money is, or is it where everyone now has to go? Something needs to be done. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

16787 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 12 MARCH 2025 50. Vote 871: Kotido District – Shs 503,436,072; 51. Vote 872: Kumi District – Shs 202,740,000; 52. Vote 879: Lamwo District – Shs 47,114,000; 53. Vote 880: Lira District – Shs 23,760,000; 54. Vote 881: Luuka District – Shs 56,760,000; 55. Vote 884: Lyantonde District – Shs 6,720,000; 56. Vote 885: Madi-Okollo District – Shs 44,695,393; 57. Vote 886: Manafwa District – Shs 251,040,000; 58. Vote 887: Maracha District – Shs 103,800,000; 59. Vote 892: Mbarara District – Shs 18,195,000; 60. Vote 896: Moyo District – Shs 11,070,000; 61. Vote 900: Nabilatuk District – Shs 36,240,000; 62. Vote 902: Nakaseke District – Shs 27,735,600; 63. Vote 904: Namayingo District – Shs 6,580,000; 64. Vote 906: Namutumba District – Shs 472,752,800; 65. Vote 907: Napak District – Shs 186,300,000; 66. Vote 910: Ntoroko District – Shs 23,400,000; 67. Vote 911: Ntungamo District – Shs 17,160,000; 68. Vote 912: Nwoya District – Shs 259,740,012; 69. Vote 914: Omoro District – Shs 92,920,000; 70. Vote 917: Pader District – Shs 356,782,000; 71. Vote 919: Pallisa District – Shs 114,335,970; 72. Vote 923: Rukiga District – Shs 51,000,000; 73. Vote 924: Rukungiri District – Shs 6,298,000; 74. Vote 925: Rwampara District – Shs 26,694,209; 75. Vote 928: Sironko District – Shs 60,000,000; 76. Vote 929: Soroti District – Shs 56,881,000; 77. Vote 932: Tororo District – Shs 3,035,429,737; 78. Vote 935: Zombo District – Shs 153,577,688; and Sub-total for local government – Shs 15,985,336,921.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am happy that the Minister in charge of Public Service is here; the role of district service commission is being bogged down by the ministry. For the last three years, the ministry halted recruitment of staff in all local governments. When the ministry stops recruitment, district service commissions become redundant. The roles of the district service commission are to advertise, recruit and conduct interviews. However, when the ministry stops them from recruiting, it means we are rendering their services redundant. Therefore, the minister should clarify on recruitment. We have districts that have very few substantive heads of departments. For example, Omoro District Local Government has only three substantive heads. The rest are acting. We normally interact with all the district local governments; the problem is from the ministry. Two, we need to empower local governments because they are incapacitated in facilitating the sittings of the district service commissions and even those of the local councils. The law says that the local councils should be paid from the locally raised revenue. We have some local governments without local revenue. They cannot facilitate the council sittings. Honourable minister, we need to be very serious on the local government if we are to succeed. If not – (Member timed out.)

14224 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT On health centres IV, we visited Awach Health Centre IV and noted that they do not have enough infrastructure. However, we were informed that a supplementary budget amounting to Shs 400 million, which was released in 2023/2024 for remodelling the general ward, was reportedly, as informed to us, diverted by the Ministry of Health after the procurement process had reached the Solicitor General’s office, and since then all works have stalled. We also noted that there are some of the health centres III that have been upgraded, but do not have an outpatient department section to make them fully functional. We also visited the Uganda Cancer Institute, which has a regional branch located in Gulu, and we were informed that they need 15 acres for land expansion and staff accommodation. However, the in-charge informed the committee that there is government land, which was identified and titled under Omoro District Local Government, yet it currently falls under Gulu City. Therefore, the institute is facing challenges in acquiring this additional land for expansion. Recommendations i) The Government to appropriate funds to the tune of Shs 3 billion to complete the 54 staffing units at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital that has taken over 10 years to complete. ii) The Government appropriates funds for completion of the maternity units that have stalled in the different health facilities. iii) In addition, we recommend an upgrade of health centres to make them fully operational and the construction of OPDs in health centres III where they are lacking. iv) The Shs 400 million supplementary budget for Financial Year 2023/2024 for remodelling of the general ward at Awach Health Centre IV that was diverted should be reinstated. We also noted that one of the theatres had been damaged and destroyed due to a fire. We, therefore, also recommend that the Government should further institute fire prevention measures across all health facilities and should also engage the Uganda Cancer Institute, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to address the issue of additional land for the institute. In regard to the status of human resource, Mr Speaker –

Good morning, Madam Speaker. Okot Peter is my name. I represent the hospitable people of Tochi County in Omoro District and I am also the Democratic Party Whip. Thank you.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, my name is Ojok Andrew Oulanyah. I represent Omoro County in Omoro District, the last-born child of Gulu District. We were very honoured to have you yesterday, and Omoro is very happy to host you in Gulu.

Madam Speaker, my name is Catherine Lamwaka, the Woman Member of Parliament for Omoro District. I warmly welcome you to this region. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity. I have been following the report of the committee and I want to thank the chairperson for the very elaborate report. However, on one of their recommendations, talking about periodic assessment of bridges on some of the major roads in the country, I thought it would be very important for us to have a recommendation that covers all the bridges on the national roads in this country to avoid us operating in a manner that we are in now, especially regarding Karuma Bridge. Secondly, I want to comment on the issue of roads under Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). The Ministry of Works and Transport should really improve on their coverage and as far as their assessment on status of roads is concerned, there are roads under UNRA that have not been worked on for the last five years. In Omoro District, I want to cite two cases. There is a road from Minakulu that connects Omoro to Nwoya District via Okwui. That road is in a very sorry state. Four days ago, the community around there and connecting to Nwoya were demonstrating. It is only your arrival in Omoro yesterday that calmed the situation down. We nearly lost two mothers who were in labour pain trying to access health facilities connecting to Kampala Road. I have written several times to the minister, and Hon. Musa Ecweru is aware of this, but nothing has been done on this road. Another road is Minja connecting Omoro District to Gulu and Kitgum. This is also another national road that has never been worked on. Even simple maintenance has never been done on the road, Madam Speaker. I want to implore the Ministry of Works and Transport - now that UNRA is no longer going to be there, let the Ministry of Works and Transport take care of all the roads under UNRA properly. I want to add my voice on the allocations for roads under Road Fund, Madam Speaker. It is very absurd. When Parliament is considering additional funding to the districts to take care of roads, you again find that they are reducing some of this funding that was there earlier on. I am not impressed with this move. The Shs 1 billion allocation by Parliament is really supporting local governments a lot in terms of maintenance. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

\;. ,, ,- i. }lL tu .,./ l -rfu \, I ffi P d 1 41" i ..- I =+*i: _.1 - / r \ Vote Description Amouat (OOO') 39,r92,9t4 902 Nakaseke District 903 Nakasongola District 3 1,339,971 904 Namayingo District 24,254,473 905 Namisindwa District 3t,27t,520 Namutumba District 33,601,552 906 907 Napak District 18,335,569 908 Nebbi District 3t,604,472 909 Ngora District 22,787,323 910 Ntoroko District 16,176,344 911 Ntungamo District 60,306,t24 9t2 Nwoya District 22,660,361 913 Obongi District L3,625,732 9t4 Omoro District 26,662,006 915 Otuke District 20,1OO,789 9L6 Oyam District 40,233,515 \rz Pader District 30,440,385 I s\a Pakwach District 22,888,O83 919 Pallisa District 36,368,2L1 920 Rakai District 39,855,468 92r Rubanda District 30,627,663 922 Rubirizi District 23,403,496 923 Rukiga District 2t,899,306 924 Rukungiri District 44,4to,975 925 Rwampara District 21,596,061 926 Sembabule District 33,249,O59 - 927 Serere District 35,784,457 928 Sheema District 3t,378,544 929 Sironko District 35,653,624 930 Soroti District 23,844,786 931 Terego District 23,87r,940 932 Tororo District 62,770,477 {7 {-.. 16 ir[

--T1tr- l+- ;,? "t ''i.. ?Y\,L \i. t -fi' --t*;=*" M I t({,,- I i: ij lL I v t1 f t l"=' ti.j Y Amount (OOO'| Vote Descriptlon 7,328,OO8 Manafwa District 886 3,44t,331 Maracha District 887 3,471,050 888 Masaka District 4,882,502 Masindi District 889 6,068,543 890 Mayuge District 6,429,337 Mbale District 891 3,641,820 492 Mbarara District 9,052,297 Mitooma District 893 6,6a2,495 894 Mityana District 1,658,849 895 Moroto District 1,922,2O4 896 Moyo District 3,477,355 897 Mpigi District 6,69L,743 898 Mubende District 3,766,672 899 Mukono District 4,343,422 Nabilatuk District 900 3,OL6,472 901 Nakapiripirit District 5,835,018 902 Nakaseke District 2,548,6t5 903 Nakasongola District 4,536,596 904 Namayingo District 4,9t8,709 Namisindwa District 905 3,981, 161 906 Namutumba District 3,807,O77 907 Napak District 4,970,272 Nebbi District 908 2,906,306 909 Ngora District t,75A,026 Ntoroko District 910 7,940,925 911 Ntungamo District 5,490,899 Nwoya District 9t2 L,649,499 913 Obongi District 2,603,313 9t4 Omoro District 2,577,067 915 Otuke District 6,868,886 9t6 Oyam District 3,127,34r 917 Pader District 2,692,356 918 Pakwach District 4,682,708 9t9 Pallisa District 3,493,436 920 Rakai District 5,950,433 92t Rubanda District 3,4tt,704 922 Rubirizi District ,-i I ,r 4 27 F$*\

13195 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 30 APRIL 2024 Vote 903: Nakasongola District – Shs 116,719,304; Vote 904: Namayingo District - Shs 11,900,000; Vote 905: Namisindwa District - Shs 1,118,779,694; Vote 907: Napak District – Shs 716,142,230; Vote 910: Ntoroko District – Shs 200,000,000; Vote 911: Ntungamo District – Shs 1,578,281,727; Vote 914: Omoro District - Shs 945,418,871; Vote 915: Otuke District – Shs 140,384,222; Vote 916: Oyam District – Shs 686,642,360; Vote 918: Pakwach District - Shs 1,194,282,483; Vote 919: Pallisa District - Shs 153,095,758; Vote 920: Rakai District - Shs 2,454,394,511; Vote 922: Rubirizi District – Shs 1,826,796,820; Vote 923: Rukiga District - Shs 147,370,222; Vote 924: Rukungiri District - Shs 885,488,277; Vote 925: Rwampara District – Shs 770,470,627; Vote 927: Serere District - Shs 311,478,920; Vote 928: Sheema District – Shs 1,953,424,896; Vote 932: Tororo District - Shs 91,205,614; Vote 933: Wakiso District – Shs 5,194,470,980; and Vote 935: Zombo District - Shs 819,580,024.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. For consistency of the record, I request that we correct pages 3 and 7, where we have written “Orapwoyo” as “Orafayo”. There is no subcounty as such in Omoro District. When I raised this matter on the 6 th of last month, the Minister of Health was the first to say there was misappropriation of money. I would expect that within the recommendations of the committee, there will be a section where we shall audit what has been given to the beneficiary communities. About what my colleague has also mentioned, it is important to know what has been given to the communities and how they have benefitted. If there has been any misappropriation, they should be held liable. Secondly, the issue of outreach has not been very sustainable. With these rehabilitation centres, at least we knew that there is a central point. In the case of Omoro, the rehabilitation centre is in Odek and the nearest health centre is about five kilometres away from that point.

12163 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 5 MARCH 2024 saved from the fire disaster when the houses get lit ablaze by the affected children. Secondly, the report of the committee talks about a monthly expenditure on feeding of Shs 32 million. Even I, as a Member of Parliament, cannot afford Shs 32 million for a family in the village breakfast, lunch, supper and fruits to enable them to cope with the disease. What these people demand is that the Government provides a supplementary grant to empower the families to do business. In addition to that, the grant that goes to disabled persons should also - because of the impact of the attack, some have become disabled – they should be included among the disabled persons to receive these grants such that they can be empowered to sustain themselves. Otherwise, how long shall we distribute food items? Mr Speaker, what pains me most is the inconsistency in the supply of drugs. I was a translator to the white people who constructed the Nodding disease centre in Omoro District. I was there in 2011 before I joined the bank. The centre has been abandoned; a fully- fledged structure has been abandoned. If the Government can take it over - even now the owner of the land is threatening to withdraw the structure and land. This is an opportunity for the Government to take it over and upgrade it to a health centre IV, specifically to manage this disease. Lastly, can we find a long-lasting solution and have this disease investigated thoroughly? What is the cause? They say it is the flies but our great-grandparents were bitten by those flies and they did not get it. Where did it come from? What causes it? What is the means of transmission? We need to know all that because from our visit, we found a two-year-old child, a three-year-old child, and a five-year-old child affected. The report cannot say that the disease is no longer there but we only have people that were affected. It is still there. There are two- year-olds, three-year-olds and five-year-olds.

12164 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT current situation of Nodding Syndrome in the subregion in the particular areas referred to. I was in Odek, Awere just two days ago and there was a new case discovered in 2024 and taken to the health workers. This new case is a seven-year-old boy. It is the newest case in that area. Mr Speaker, what worries me more is that the Ministry of Health from the time the Nodding Syndrome came to be heard about, has been doing research upon research but we have never got any concrete position as far as the research they have been doing is concerned. In 2012/2013, when I was working in Pader as a Resident District Commissioner (RDC) - I would like to thank the President for his intervention in this matter. The President had to go on the ground in Angagura Subcounty to attend to this matter after his attention was drawn to it. He directed for an inter-ministerial committee to be constituted and supervised by the Prime Minister. The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and other ministries were members of this committee. However, from the time that recommendations were arrived at; the aerial sprays, river dousing took place but three years after that, a lot changed totally. I want to state clearly on the Floor of this House that ministries have been implementing their interventions on nodding syndrome in a very haphazard manner, without proper coordination. Mr Speaker, when we talk about the issue of nodding syndrome and supply of drugs, most of these children have stayed for five months without medication. It is the anti-seizure drug that helps them normally. I visited the children in September last year and found that they stayed for seven months without medication. You can imagine the kind of situation we are in. I want to appeal to the Ministry of Health to get on the ground and assess the situation now and give the most current report to this Parliament on their intervention as far as case management is concerned. I want to add my voice on the issue of reopening rehabilitation centres. The rehabilitation centre in Owaja Village, Malaba, Omoro District has been closed since 2017 because of funding. It is true that the President made a commitment and recommended that the Ministry of Health should take over these facilities and plan for them. In the last financial year, we raised this matter to the Ministry of Health but nothing was done. Now, in this planning process, I want to agree with your proposal that we have a meeting with these ministries and the Prime Minister so that some of these issues are taken care of in the forthcoming budget. These centres to be reopened with the establishment of health centre IIIs so that they can take care of the medical needs of these children. Alongside the care aspect of giving care to these children. Mr Speaker, if you get to visit these facilities once open and children are being attended to properly at the care centres, you may not even believe that they are sick. They tend to improve very quickly. Once they are attended to with proper feeding and medication in time, their condition improves so fast. That time when they were under proper attention, some of them were even able to go back to school. However, the situation has totally deteriorated. I really agree that with the proposal so that these centres be reopened -

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to clarify on some of the few issues that have been raised. First, in the case of Lango. I state that the cases we found in Omoro District were coming from Oyam because Omoro District borders Oyam District and the rehabilitation centre that is at Adek is actually at the border between Omoro and Oyam. Secondly, the cases from Lira were actually being reported also under those in Pader because it borders Lira District. What we found was that most of the cases in Oyam and Lira were moving towards Omoro and also Pader because that is where the services were available unlike in Lira and therefore it needs intervention in all those areas. Thirdly, these rehabilitation centres are health centres, social centres and also educational centres where they acquire vocational skills and they are integrated back into the community. We found out that some of the cases were integrated back into the community but there were some which were very severe and in the end, they went back home but still they could not be managed. That is the reason we proposed that a monthly support is given to those families because they have to stay close to them and they cannot go to their gardens, shops and businesses because if they do that, then there is a higher risk on them. Lastly, in regard to the new cases, in what we presented, we said that what they observed was that wherever there was a high population of the black flies, there was a high prevalence of nodding disease syndrome, mainly along the River Aswa. However, that hypothesis had a challenge. There are parts of the world in Latin America and Asia with a high black fly population but no nodding disease syndrome. Therefore, there could be possibilities that new cases may have emerged because the black fly hypothesis was not conclusive. Therefore, the proposal to support research will help to address this. In science, they say, “absence of evidence is not necessarily evidence of absence.” Thank you.

Madam Speaker, to the best of my recollection, what was submitted in Cabinet is not far from what you have stated – to the effect that all the major townships along, for instance, in this case, Kamdini and Minakulu are beneficiaries. Even some townships in Omoro District – before you reach Gulu – are beneficiaries. What I strongly believe is about the people in Oyam because her constituency is Oyam North, which is not along the major highway. Even Oyam district headquarters is not along the major highway. It appears their intention is that there should be some – what we call in electricity, tee-off point to Oyam District Headquarters including Oyam Town Council, which now falls outside the precincts of the project as approved.

10677 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2023 Project, allocated funds for the Rehabilitation of road chokes in Madi-Okollo District and the procurement process commenced in 2021 . However, at the time of contract award, the best bid price was above the estimated cost and thus the accounting officer could not proceed with the contract signing as per Section 7, part II of the PPDA Contracts Regulations, 2014. Mr Speaker, a market survey was undertaken in September 2021, which confirmed that, indeed, the quoted price was higher than the prevailing market price by 13 per cent. Therefore, this procurement qualified for a re-tender and given that the scope of the works had changed and required a re-assessment. Another process was initiated in August 2022 and an award of contract was made to the best evaluated bidder in March 2023. Unfortunately, after signing the contract, the best evaluated bidder declined to commence works. The ministry explored the option of awarding the second best-evaluated bidder and approval was obtained on 14 September 2023. The draft contract has been submitted to the Solicitor- General for clearance. Mr Speaker, I wish to assure this august House that this choke will be completed since the Government has requested the World Bank to extend the ACDP implementation time by six months, from 30 October 2023. The seventh question came from the Hon. Catherine Lamwaka, Woman Representative Omoro District. Mr Speaker, the honourable member says that on 23 and 26 June, unknown people broke into Palrenga Health Centre II in – Tochi County, and Tegot Health Centre II in- Omoro County in Omoro District, respectively, and took the following medical items; (i) The Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits, (Malaria Test Strips), 135 boxes, - meant for 2,400 adult patients from Palenga Health Centre II; and. (ii) 43 boxes of Coartem drugs meant for 1,290 adult patients. Over the last two weeks, similar cases happened in Kitgum District, where two health centre IIs were broken into. Padre Health Centre II was broken into and a microscope and anti-malarial drugs were taken. In Amuru District, two health centre IIs were also broken into and unspecified drugs were stolen. In the last four weeks, in Kaladima Health Centre II in Amuru District; solar panels, drugs, computers and TV screens were stolen. In addition, at Otwee Health Centre II in Amuru District; a TV screen, and a computer were vandalised in an attempted of theft. In the same period, at Atiak Health Centre IV, and in the same district, the fence of the health facility was destroyed in an attempt to break in. In the month of April, there were break-ins at the following facilities in Omoro District: (i) Abwoch Health Centre II in Ongako Subcounty and Koro Abili Health Centre II in Koro Subcounty, on 24 April 2023; (ii) Patuda Health Centre II in Abuga Subcounty on 3 April 2023; (iii) Lela-Obaro Health Centre II in Bobi Subcounty on 4 April this year, where 57 boxes of Coartem - adult dose and 37 boxes of children, 86 boxes of RDT for malaria test, 250 doses of I.V Artesunate (60mg) and two solar batteries, among other items. This matter of theft of drugs in the month of April was raised in this House, for the attention of the Minister of Internal Affairs, and the Minister of Health. It is worrying that the cases are becoming more instead. Secondly, after the supply of drugs in February, there was a delay up to June, when the National

10678 STATEMENT BY THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION Medical Store supplied drugs for three cycles at the same time. It was then that these thefts came into play. Her prayers are that; (i) There is an urgent need for the Ministry of Internal Affairs to present a statement on this well-coordinated, organised crime and the action taken so far; and. (ii) That the Minister of Internal Affairs should assess the security deployments by police and sister forces on the ground and re-organise with the focus to include the nature of the crime in their security mapping, especially planning for the security of health facilities, by respective district security committees;. (iii) That the Minister of Internal Affairs should urgently consider the establishment of police posts in some strategic locations like Palenga Town Council, which does not have a police post nearby, yet it is a fast-growing urban centre; (iv) That the Ministry of Health and respective local governments should review the recruitment of local Askaris , that is, local health facility watchmen, and their deployments. The watchmen of these health facilities, in most cases, have been suspected of either conniving with or being accomplices of these criminals. Mr Speaker, my response is that in Omoro District, on 23 June this year at Palenga Health Centre II, thieves broke into the health facility and stole 86 boxes of Coartem, 43 boxes of Malaria RDT and one box of gloves, all valued at Shs 6,627,000. The security guard was arrested for neglect of duty and to help in investigations. The case file (CRB368/2023) is with Resident State Attorney as investigations continue. On 25 June 2023, at Tegot Health Centre II in Opit Central Ward, Opit Town Council, at an unknown time, thieves broke into the store of the facility and stole drugs; Coartem, Malaria RDT and testing kits for HIV all valued at Shs 9,461,350. Three suspects were arrested. The case file number is (CRB378/2023) and it was taken to the Resident State Attorney for further management. Mr Speaker, on 1 July 2023, at around 1800 hours, a one Mackay Bua, male adult aged 40 years, was intercepted riding a motorcycle belonging to his father, a GISO in Alebtong District. He was also found with an assortment of drugs worth Shs 9,400,000 and charged vide SD REF 17/01/07/2023 at Koro Police Station. It was later revealed that he got the drugs from Janet Abonyo, a nurse attached to Koro Lapinat Health Centre III. Abonyo confessed that she had stolen the drugs from the store and was accordingly charged with stealing drugs vide (CRB394/2023). Mackay Bua was charged with being in possession of stolen drugs. The two suspects appeared in Court in Gulu and are now on remand. In Amuru District, on 14 May 2023, a one Thomas Kinyera, the in-charge of security at Kaladima Health Centre III, reported a store break-in and theft of drugs, a TV screen, a computer and two microscopes, all valued at Shs 10 million. This facility has three security guards, that is, Thomas Kinyera, Ceaser Okee and Richard Otim, who are on the Government payroll. On 13 May, Ceaser Okee who was meant to be on duty, was absent. No medical staff... On 13 th May, Ceaser Okee, who was meant to be on duty was absent. No medical staff was present on duty at night nor on standby to respond to emergencies. It was also observed that the security guards are deployed alone, according to the deployment rota. The case file CRB 239/2023 was sent to RSA for further management. [Ms Nabbanja] PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the minister for bringing the statement. Every time a government official from the President downward speaks about electricity in the country, the entire population is appreciative. Why? It is because we are told that we are generating a lot of it. In Tochi and Omoro District, we have electricity poles lined up towards every subcounty. When the pronouncement was made in 2017 that every subcounty would receive electricity, the Ministry of Education and Sports took that on and supplied secondary schools with computers with the hope that they would be used to promote science education. I tell you, until now, these computers are not being used, and so how useful is this. Electricity is a pull factor. In the general Gulu City area, several industries have been shut down because of electricity. Today, it is there, and tomorrow it is not there; this makes the cost of doing business very high and it has brought a lot of unemployment. Once these industries shut down, the staff are sent home. STATEMENT ON THE ELECTRICITY SECTOR

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I request the learned Attorney-General to share an update on the compensation of the cattle debt claimants in Northern Uganda, especially Omoro District. I would like to appreciate the Prime Minister; she is always on the ground and gets things done. When I raised two issues in December, one of them was the issue of Moroto Road. She went on the ground and made sure that now we have a contractor who is doing the design of the road. I thank you very much, Madam Prime Minister, as I wait for the update from the learned Attorney-General. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My amendment is in line with terms of reference three and five, where I request that we include districts beyond – for example, Gulu District and City were mentioned - how about districts beyond those where the city was created. I can give you an example of Omoro District. There is an entire subcounty headquarter that is in Gulu City. Koro Subcounty needs Shs 740 million. Can we include that in the amendment that the districts which are affected beyond those two, which they have mentioned? Thank you.

8759 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 18 MAY 2023 229) Vote 900: Nabilatuk District – Shs 8,965,015,000 230) Vote 901: Nakapiripirt District – Shs 11,039,255,000 231) Vote 902: Nakaseke District – Shs 33,609,209,000 232) Vote 903: Nakasongola District – Shs 29,199,461,000 233) Vote 904: Namayingo District – Shs 24,345,537,000 234) Vote 905: Namisindwa District – Shs 25,757,056,000 235) Vote 906: Namutumba District – Shs 29,395,177,000 236) Vote 907: Napak District – Shs 14,554,931,000 237) Vote 908: Nebbi District – Shs 28,393,138,000 238) Vote 909: Ngora District – Shs 20,015,428,000 239) Vote 910: Ntoroko District – Shs 17,856,009,000 240) Vote 911: Ntungamo District – Shs 52,482,302,000 241) Vote 912: Nwoya District – Shs 19,818,194,000 242) Vote 913: Obongi District – Shs 11,259,732,000 243) Vote 914: Omoro District – Shs 23,623,072,000 244) Vote 915: Otuke District – Shs 17,308,500,000 245) Vote 916: Oyam District – Shs 36,647,321,000 246) Vote 917: Pader District – Shs 28,538,070,000 247) Vote 918: Pakwach District – Shs 20,416,756,000 248) Vote 919: Pallisa District – Shs 32,319,522,000 249) Vote 920: Rakai District – Shs 35,470,398,000 250) Vote 921: Rubanda District – Shs 26,781,538,000 251) Vote 922: Rubirizi District – Shs 17,650,350,000 252) Vote 923: Rukiga District – Shs 21,557,840,000 253) Vote 924: Rukungiri District – Shs 40,111,677,000 254) Vote 925: Rwampara District - Shs 21,241,513,000 255) Vote 926: Ssembabule District – Shs 29,341,783,000 256) Vote 927: Serere District – Shs 32,000,876,000 257) Vote 928: Sheema District – Shs 26,927,219,000 258) Vote 929: Sironko District – Shs 32,016,598,000 259) Vote 930: Soroti District – Shs 22,110,246,000 260) Vote 931: Terego District – Shs 25,198,993,000 261) Vote 932: Tororo District – Shs 57,785,129,000 262) Vote 933: Wakiso District – Shs 78,280,713,000

Madam Chairperson, Vote 914 is Omoro District. The figure I have, under development expenditure, is Shs 3,064,586,000.

8583 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 9 MAY 2023 was moved by the Rt Hon. Prime Minister to pay tribute to our senior colleague ; Col (Rtd) Okello Engola Macodwogo. I would like to convey my condolences, that of my family and the people of Omoro District to the bereaved family of our fallen brother, Col Okello Engola Macodwogo. Madam Speaker, from what has been talked about in the House this afternoon about Okello Engola, the testimonies are: one is that he is above self and two, serving for the common need of our people. Hon. Okello Engola chose to serve in the military and grew from the lowest rank up to the rank of a colonel, serving in the military field, a department of service that is very risky. He did it very diligently and we are benefiting as a region from the outcome of his service. He has been a pacifier. Madam Speaker, while he served as the 501 Brigade Commander in Opit - Opit is in Omoro District and it neighbors Oyam District. The people of Omoro District have expressed sympathy for the loss of this gallant son. The people of Lango, Opit and Omoro District know the very meaning of Macodwogo because they are direct beneficiaries. I wish to end and quote the words of Scott Hildreth. He said, “ The value of a person’s life is measured by the amount of people they touch in living it. ” From the efforts of Okello Engola by ensuring that we receive peace in the region, he was able to touch so many lives, particularly of the vulnerable people; the women and the children. Madam Speaker, when he was serving as the LC V Chairperson Oyam District that was the time I got to know him better. I was the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) in Pader District and he was the LCV Chairperson of Apac District. We were in a meeting discussing Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF II) that time and he spoke very passionately on ensuring that we support livelihood component of the people that have returned home. So, I picked interest to know who this man was. I am not surprised with eulogies Members are giving about Hon. Okello Engola Macodwogo. Indeed, we have lost a great man, a man with great humility. There is a word Hon. Okello Engola told me when we were in our campaigns for the first time by-elections in Omoro when I came to Parliament. I did not know Hon. Ssewungu, who has confessed today was in the team of Hon. Mao campaigning on the other side. I was the candidate on the side of Okello Engola with Hon. Mao hitting us badly but Okello Engola told me one thing that when they found him, Hon. Mao entered the rally that he was addressing. When they started throwing words at him, he kept quiet and did not answer. I was wondering: what kind of military man is this? He did not respond to them. I asked him: “What should we do?” He said: “You are a candidate, just sneak from behind and disappear. Let me deal with the situation.” It did not take long. After about six minutes, I got a call from another subcounty – Lalogi – which was about seven kilometres away, that Hon. Okello Engola Macodwogo was already in Lalogi Subcounty. He left Hon. Mao and team in that very place. That was humility. Humility takes you to greater heights. I appeal to honourable colleagues that we are all in positions of leadership and are serving this country: what shall we be remembered for? I wish to express my condolences, again, to the bereaved family of Hon. Okello Engola Macodwogo. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Mr Speaker, I am about to conclude. As the country grapples with the impact of climate change, continuous afforestation programmes and smart agriculture practices are the preferred options to mitigate these impacts. I, therefore, call upon honourable colleagues to support the Ministry of Water and Environment and the National Forestry Authority’s efforts to restore these forests. Hon. Andrew Ojok Oulanyah, Member of Parliament for Omoro, raised a concern that Moroto Road (Gulu-Opit-Rackoko-Patongo- Abim-Moroto), which is the backbone of Omoro District and many other districts in Acholi, Lango and Karamoja sub-regions is currently non-motorable. His prayer was: what are the Government’s plan to; (i) Maintain Moroto Road? (ii) Upgrade Moroto Road to acceptable standards as envisaged in the NRM Manifesto? My response is that the Gulu-Opit-Rackoko- Patongo-Abim-Moroto Road is a national road, under the management of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), and the road is currently under maintenance. Although the road was not listed in National Development Plan III, it is a priority road as stated by His Excellency the President in his pledges. As such, the road has been identified for development. Design for the upgrading of this road is scheduled to commence in Financial Year 2023/2024. I wish to inform the honourable members that the Gulu-Opit-Rackoko- Patongo-Abim-Moroto Road is a priority road and it is the plan of the Government to upgrade it to acceptable standards. Hon. Geoffrey Macho, MP Busia Municipality, was concerned about regular load shedding, which had adversely affected service delivery in Busia Municipality. [Ms Nabbanja] PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

Madam Speaker, I got a question from Hon. Andrew Ojok Oulanyah, Member of Parliament for Omoro County. He would like to seek guidance from Government and an update on the status of the compensation of Omoro war debt claimants. He said the people of Omoro were yet to receive their compensation from the Government. His prayer was that I update the House on the compensation of the war debt claimants of Omoro. Madam Speaker, my response is that on 26 March 2022, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda launched payments for war debt claimants and beneficiaries for cattle lost in the subregions of Acholi, Lango and Teso at Soroti University grounds, Soroti City. Following the launch, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs started processing payments of livestock compensation for beneficiaries and claimants in the sub-regions of Acholi, Lango and Teso. A total of 92,634 data cards, in triplicate copies, were distributed to the 29 districts in the subregions of Acholi, Lango and Teso. The data cards were distributed as follows: 45.4 per cent (42,024) to the districts of the Lango sub- region, 36.3 per cent (33,664) to the districts of Teso sub-region and 18.3 per cent (16,946) to the districts of Acholi sub-region. Madam Speaker, by 30 June 2022, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs had received 33,017 (35.64 per cent) livestock claimants and beneficiaries records, out of the 92,634 data cards submitted. Omoro District had submitted hardcopy data cards accompanied by soft copy information. However, when the data cards were subjected to verification, the ministry realised that the data cards had been wrongly filled, that is to say, each claimant/beneficiary had filled triplicate copies, each with a different serial number (0001, 0002 and 0003) instead of a set of triplicate data cards bearing the same serial number (0001, 0001 and 0001). The ministry procured 2,000 new data cards from Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation, which were sent to Omoro District for the claimants/beneficiaries to fill in, again. A total of 1,258 data cards were resubmitted by Omoro District in July 2022 and have since been verified. Madam Speaker, this current Financial Year 2022/2023, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has allocated Shs 30 billion to pay verified and validated war debt claimants/beneficiaries in the subregions of Acholi, Lango and Teso. Hon. Phyllis Chemutai, the Woman MP Kapchorwa District, raised a matter concerning lack of water in Kapchorwa District and the need for Government to fulfill a presidential PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

Thank you very much, Rt Hon. Speaker. This motion, for clarity, is moved under Rule 56 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament. “WHEREAS the 20 th day of March 2023 marks the first anniversary of the untimely demise of the late Rt Hon. Dr Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah, the former Speaker of the 11 th Parliament of the Republic of Uganda; RECALLING that the late Rt Hon. Dr Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah made his mark in the service of his country with devotion and that his dedicated leadership greatly contributed to Parliament’s strengthening of an adherence to the rule of law and parliamentary practices through persistent call for quality debate, political tolerance and promotion of cohesion amongst the different shades of opinion; ACKNOWLEDGING the late Rt Hon. Dr Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah’s contribution to the peace process in northern Uganda through offering political leadership and monitoring of the post-conflict recovery process, and during the aftermath of the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency, according vulnerable citizens access to the justice system; AWARE that the late Rt Hon. Dr Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah’s legacy of transforming his community from a subsistence to money economy through initiatives such as the multi- billion shillings Dano Pa Dano Foundation and several similar impactful start-up capital to micro businesses projects in Omoro District still live on even after his demise; APPRECIATING that the late Rt Hon. Dr Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah was a firm proponent of the right to education for all children and, indeed, sponsored over 200 children to access education at primary, secondary, tertiary and university levels as a means by which responsible citizens of this country would be groomed;

Thank you. Honourable colleagues, we share this together because on the 5 th of April, you passed a resolution that on his birthday, which is today, we should save it as a day for commemorating his legacy. So, I want to thank you for being here in big numbers to ensure that, indeed, we will achieve that. Colleagues, in the public gallery this afternoon, we have members of the local leadership of Omoro District. They include the NRM party leadership of Omoro District. Please, stand up for recognition. They include local government councillors and other district leaders and technical staff from Omoro District. They have come to observe the proceedings as we pay tribute to their great son, the late Rt Hon. Jacob Oulanyah. Please, join me in welcoming them. (Applause)

7734 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION My appeal is that Omoro District should remain to be supported. Whether the late Oulanyah is alive or not, his son is here - and I thank this House for standing firm. You went on the ground and supported him and gave him all the – (Member timed out.)

7755 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 23 MARCH 2023 We appreciate that some of us are in this Parliament because of the good work that Jacob Oulanyah did in our constituencies. I am one of them and there are many others in the Acholi subregion. Like my brother, Hon. Gilbert Olanya said, when he became the NRM Chairperson for Northern region representing Members of Parliament at CEC, the Rt Hon. Jacob Oulanyah would leave his constituency and sleep in people’s constituencies, mobilise for them and ensured that they made it. I remember he came to his constituency last when it was only two days to elections. Mr Speaker, I am one of those who have never believed that Jacob Oulanyah is gone. At times, I sit and think he is doing some Government assignment elsewhere and will come back one day to sit in that Chair. However, a year down the road, he is no longer with us. We pray that the legacy he has left and the mentorship that he did - We are very proud of him. I would like to thank, in the most sincere way, the people of Omoro District and especially his constituency. When we were deployed under instructions to ensure that my brother, Hon. Andrew Ojok Oulanyah replaces his dad, we went and did the assignment. It was very simple for everybody who was deployed there. The people of Omoro said, “We want to reward Jacob Oulanyah with his son.” I am very proud that the people of Omoro, watching us from home and here, listened to the cry of Parliament. May God continue to guide the family, especially my brother here. We will stand with him to ensure that he makes his dad proud. We are here as his product. Thank you.

7761 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 23 MARCH 2023 we are doing here could be temporary, but you will still go back to your families. There was a time he called me at about 6.00 p.m. I had already left home and he asked me, Andrew - due to Parliamentary procedure, I cannot say “ Ole” as they say in the Luo language. He said, “Why don’t you call me?” I said, “I know your schedule. I know when you are in the House and when in the constituency. I know wherever you are.” He then said, “So, you know when not to call? Call, I will find the missed call”. He loved his family very much and if they could share their stories, you would hear from Aunt Harriet who is in the gallery. She still sheds tears up to now because they were so close. To-date, she is still mourning, but we are all mourning as a house. From today’s scripture of Joshua 1:7-8, we are told to be strong and courageous. As legislators, there is no higher call than that because you are going to step on peoples’ toes, but you have to be bold and courageous and stand your ground. I want to appreciate the House for this recent enactment that took courage. It took boldness and I want to applaud the House under this leadership for that. I would not be fair if I did not give thanks for all the support that I have got; for all the support that the family has got, and for all the support along the way. Allow me to thank the Executive that has been with us from the start. I cannot thank them enough. (Applause) I also thank Parliament, the leadership and all the Members here. When he passed on, you gave us hope. You came to the constituency, you campaigned with us and you rallied support for your comrade’s son and we do not take that for granted. Not just that, you also contributed money for education because he loved education. He believed that through education, we could get somewhere as Northern Uganda, which has been at war for over 20 years. Education is the only key at the moment because the land is there, but to use it, you need to have skills. That is why he loved education. I want to appreciate you all for the support that you gave us. You have given hope to the next generation of leaders. I want to appreciate the Judiciary because the Judiciary, through the Chief Justice, has stood with us. He is the current Chair of the Education Trust Fund that you all contributed handsomely to. I want to thank you all for that. Omoro District is represented here. I would not be doing them justice if I did not thank them. However, I also want to voice a few concerns on what he stood for. He stood for five things: education, economic empowerment, health, infrastructure development and agriculture. All those issues are cross-cutting in Uganda. They are not issues of just Omoro and I believe that if we addressed them in terms of funding and priority, we could bring meaningful change to the country. I thank you all for this moment. We are honoured as a family. We are honoured as Omoro District and as Omoro County; we are deeply humbled because most times when a person dies, that is the end of the chapter. You have sacrificed your own legacies to sustain another person’s legacy. I want to thank you for that humility. You have shown a tremendous sign of humility. All in all, we have a duty to this country and we are duty-bound to make sure Parliament is people-centred and authoritative; that the mother who is carrying jerrycans can be catered for in our legislation. I want to thank you. For God and my country.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I was privileged to be part of that team that went to America and I must say it was a four-day event that culminated in the team paying tribute to the late Speaker of this House, and my father. In addition to that, we also coincidentally met a team of oncologists who were part of the team that set up the Uganda Cancer Institute. The two were Dr Tianyu Zhao and Dr Baozhou Sun, who were very committed to seeing that the cancer issue in Uganda is addressed. Of course, you mentioned yesterday that the cancer institute is there, but the staff is lacking. They raised similar concerns, for example, that a state like Missouri has over 40 to 50 cancer machines, yet Uganda has one or two. Allow me to present the three proclamations that were made in honour of the late Speaker. Allow me to just highlight them and then read one of them because of time. There is a proclamation from the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors and another from the City of St Louis. These two are from the state of Missouri. The third proclamation is from the Senate of Illinois. We were privileged to meet the first black Speaker of that Senate, Mr Welch. Allow me to just read one of them to see the content of the proclamations. “CITY OF ST. LOUIS RESOLUTION HONORING FORMER SPEAKER OF THE 11 TH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA, THE HONOURABLE JACOB L. OULANYAH WHEREAS the Honourable Board of Aldermen for the City of St. Louis recognises the former Speaker of the 11 th Parliament of Uganda, Hon. Jacob L. Oulanyah, who passed away in March 2022; and WHEREAS in 2017 he made history when he led the largest delegation from Uganda at one time to attend the RESET America RESET Africa conference organised by the Global Impact Leadership Alliance (GILA) and its founder and CEO Larita Rice-Barnes; WHEREAS Hon. Jacob L. Oulanyah was a champion of connecting Africa to America, he was a proud supporter of the work of Empowerment of Grace and GILA, founded in the City of St. Louis, but working in Illinois and Indiana. GILA is committed to meeting the extensive needs of the ever-changing world through its resources and relationships formed on a global level. GILA is touching four continents: North America, South America, Africa and Asia; and WHEREAS Speaker Oulanyah was elected to Parliament to represent the people of Omoro County in Omoro District of northern Uganda, before he was elected Deputy Speaker, he was practicing law under J.L. Oulanyah and Company Advocates. He had specialised training in legal and legislative drafting and had experience in drafting laws and agreements, including peace agreements. He taught legislative drafting and constitutional