President Yoweri Museveni joined the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, and other legislators in a special session to honor the life and legacy of the late Cecilia Ogwal, who passed away on January 18, 2024.
The Speaker urged the leaders and the public to celebrate Ogwal’s remarkable achievements, rather than mourn her death. She said that Ogwal had advised against excessive sorrow, as she was confident of her eternal destiny.
She also challenged everyone to differentiate between national and partisan interests, and to emulate Ogwal’s example of fostering unity and respect among political parties.
The President praised Ogwal as a mother, mentor, colleague, and inspiration to many, and said that he had a unique and close friendship with her, despite their political differences.
He said that he chose to attend the session personally, despite his busy schedule with international engagements, as a sign of his appreciation and recognition of Ogwal’s contributions to the country.
He also thanked the Speaker for congratulating him on his recent appointments as the chairperson of the Non-Aligned Movement and the G-77 plus China group.
He said that Ogwal would have been proud of his achievements, as she had always advocated for advancing Uganda’s interests on the global stage.
The President also acknowledged Ogwal’s decision to grant her an official burial, and said that he would address the issues raised by the members during the session.
The members paid glowing tribute to Ogwal, describing her as a nationalist, a source of parliamentary wisdom, a counselor and mentor, a champion of women and girls’ rights, and a model wife.
They also thanked the President for his gesture of honoring Ogwal, and the public for their support and condolences.
The session ended with a moment of silence in memory of Ogwal, who was a member of Parliament for over 20 years, and served in various capacities, including as the Leader of Opposition and the Commissioner of Parliament.
