The speaker of parliament has broken silence about his life following his return from United Kingdom in what the parliament says he was in a private visit to check on his family.
Oulanyah returned on Friday after a month when he last appeared at Kololo Independence Grounds while presiding the parliament at the reading of the 2021/2022 financial year Budget.
According to him, has said that he is alive and well despite reports that he has been unwell.
Speaker’s absence from the public had raised speculation with several reports indicating that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
Some reports also indicated that he was allegedly transported to Entebbe International Airport in an ambulance and carried on a stretcher to the plane that evacuated him from Uganda.
However, Deputy Speaker Anita Among told the press that Speaker Oulanyah was on leave and would return to chair the House, as they had agreed that either Speaker chairs the house for two months.
Mr Oulanyah who is back at his home in Muyenga, Kampala told Uganda Radio Network – URN on phone that there should be no worry as he is totally okay.
A section of legislators last week tasked the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ms Anita Among, to explain the whereabouts of the Speaker.
The legislators expressed concern that it would be prudent if the House was formally notified about the Speaker’s absence.
The matter was raised on the floor of the House by Kalungu West MP, Mr Joseph Ssewungu.
“Can we have an update about our Right Hon Speaker Jacob Oulanyah? We want to know what the fate of the Speaker of Parliament is. We are 529 MPs, even if he is down we must know that he is down. When the former Speaker (Ms Rebecca Kadaga) was sick one time, MPs were informed. None of us is coming out to give the public what is happening to the Speaker,” Mr Ssewungu said.
In the same vein, the Kilak South MP, Mr Gilbert Olanya, said the electorate especially in the northern region of Uganda, are constantly demanding for an answer about status of the Speaker.
This was however ignored by the Ms Among who didn’t provide a specific answer about the matter.