By Website Writer; We can authoritatively note that the government of Uganda will be spending over Ugx. 2.5Billion for the fallen Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah’s state funeral and burial.
It should be recalled after Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah’s death, H.E YK Museveni said the deceased would be mourned as a top hierarchy government official.
President Museveni then directed the Minister for Presidency, Ms. Milly Babalanda to prepare a state funeral for the late Speaker.
On Tuesday, the National Organizing Committee chaired by the Presidency Minister, Ms. Milly Babalanda confirmed a whooping budget of Ugx. 2.5Billion for the entire funeral program.
The cost will cater for the 8-days funeral program that commences when the casket is received at Entebbe International Airport, to Muyenga and the burial grounds in Omoro district.
Ms. Babalanda and team’s Shs.2.5B prepared budget excludes medical and funeral home bills in the US as well as expenses of flying back Oulanyah’s body.
In February 2022, the former Omoro legislator was airlifted to Seattle, USA for a specialized treatment using a chartered Uganda Airlines plane reportedly costing Shs1.7B.
The cost sparked verbal disputes among government officials in Uganda.
Protests also broke out at the University of Washington Medical Centre where he was admitted by the Ugandan Diaspora community over initial financial reports.
However, Uganda Airlines dismissed without providing alternative figures, that airlifting him to America cost Shs1.7B.
Oulanyah Burial Budget is as follows;
Muyenga:
- Sitting and Ushering – Shs2.8M
- Health service – Shs13.5M
- Ceremonies – Shs12.3M
- Protocol – Shs3.6M
- A-Plus Funeral Services – Shs75M
Kololo Grounds:
- Decoration – Shs8.9M
- Sitting and ushering – Shs8.1M
- Ceremonies – Shs4.4M
- Accreditation – Shs26M
- Construction – Shs19M
- Protocol – Shs1.9M
- First aid – Shs10.5M
- Finance sub-committee – Shs20M
- Health service (Covid-19) – Shs60M
- Publicity – Shs18M
- A-Plus funeral services – Shs151M
Omoro:
- Decoration – Shs12M
- Sitting and ushering – Shs14.7M
- Ceremonies – Shs30.6M
- Fuel for coordination – Shs124M
- Construction – Shs3M
- Protocol – Shs2.2M
- Funeral service (general) – Shs1.1B
- Finance sub-committee – Shs228.7M
- Security – Shs158.5M
- Acholi Parliamentary Group – Shs312.9M
- Religious leaders – Shs11M
- Health services – Shs34M
However, the budget has since gone controversial on social media.
In Oulanyah’s funeral program statement, Ms. Babalanda cautioned the public to focus on the burial activities planned for and agreed upon rather than to dwell on discussing the budgets.
She also in a special way expressed her gratitude to H.E. the President for accepting to accord a befitting funeral to the Late Oulanyah and for leading the entire program. I
She also thanked the Minister of Finance for the prompt interventions.
Rest in Peace Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah!
