Speaker, MPs mourn Cecilia Ogwal

By Francis Lubega

18^th Jan 2024

Members of the 11^th Parliament are commiserating with the family of the late Hon. Cecilia Ogwal who has been representing Dokolo District in the 11^th Parliament.

Hon. Cecilia Ogwal died at 77 years of age and is said to have been battling cancer for some time until the time of death today morning from India where she was admitted a while ago.

Led by The Speaker of Parliament Anita Among the MPs have eulogized Ogwal, as a role model.

Speaking from Late Ogwal’s residence in Bugolobi, a suburb of Kampala where she was conveying her condolence to Lameck Ogwal, Among said that Ogwal inspired women to join Parliament.

The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa also eulogized Ogwal describing her death as truly heartbreaking to Uganda observing that Ogwal was instrumental in guiding and shaping local leaders, as well as advocating for a just global agenda where the voice of the global south was heard especially in the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States – OACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

MPS who include Nyendo-Mukungwe Division in Masaka city Mathias Mpuuga, Sheema district woman MP and Mawokota South MP Yusuf Nsibambi said that she will be missed for her sense of commitment on duty.

Mpuuga said that the late Cecilia Ogwal offered lessons to the lazy MPs who were always dodging parliament business.

Mawokota South MP Yusuf Nsibambi who is also the FDC party whip in parliament said that his party FDC will miss her efforts of reconciling the party factions

Former UPC Iron Lady commonly known as Cecilia Imat in Lango, Cecilia Ogwal was also a member of the Constituent Assembly that promulgated Uganda’s 1995 Constitution and she also served in the Pan-African Parliament.

Cecilia Ogwal served as the Assistant Secretary General at the Uganda People’s Congress.

During that time, she openly opposed the monolithic movement system of the NRA which had banned political parties by the infamous article 269 of the 1995 Constitution.

Her activism was more pronounced during the Constituent Assembly; it was around that time that she was nicknamed “UPC iron Lady”.

May her soul rest in eternal peace

END