Uganda has lost gold in Cecilia Ogwal – Akena

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Uganda has lost gold in Cecilia Ogwal, the president of Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Jimmy Akena, has said.Akena, who dislodged Ogwal from Lira Municipality in 2006, described the former UPC and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) stalwart as a mentor and mother of opposition politics who opened doors to many politicians across the country. ;

“Cecilia was a mother to many young politicians who she mentored, and her death is a big loss because gold which is wisdom in her has gone too,” Akena said. ; ;

Akena, who was speaking on Urban TV’s Press Wall political talk show hosted by ;New Vision’s senior political writer, Umar Kashaka, on Saturday, said Ogwal will be remembered as an objective leader who wished to create peace with everybody.

The Dokolo district woman MP succumbed to cancer in India on Thursday. She was 77. ;

According to the funeral programme released by the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, Ogwal’s remains will be flown into the country on Sunday. ;

Among added that a special Parliament sitting will be held on Monday next week for lawmakers to pay tribute to Ogwal.

The minister for presidency, Milly Babalanda said President Yoweri Museveni will also attend the special sitting at Parliament on Monday. ;

The tentative funeral programme noted that Ogwal, who has been accorded a state burial by Museveni, will be buried on Saturday next week—January 27. ;

Although he almost ended her political career in Parliament, Akena said Ogwal’s almost magnetic connection with people bailed her out when Dokolo district was created. ; ;

“In 2006 I contested with Hon Cecilia Ogwal for Lira municipality and I managed to go through, then later that year, Dokolo became a district, and she went to Dokolo, where she became the Woman MP. She was a politician who is able to connect with the people,” Akena said.

The UPC strongman added that given the fact that after 1985, most of the UPC leadership ran into exile, including his father and former President, Dr Apollo Milton Obote, Ogwal became the de facto UPC leader at the time.

“It is here that her true character came out, earning her the name of iron lady. ;We are glad to have benefited from her service,” Akena said. ;

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).