The Chief Justice Alphonse Owiny Dollo has declared that he and other legislators will do whatever it takes to uphold the initiative started by the deceased former Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, in which he paid school fees for a total of 120 students.
This was after these students expressed worry over the continuity of their education after the demise of their benefactor.
However, the Chief Justice urged them not to worry, because they would be sponsored just like Oulanyah used to. According to him, this will be made possible through The Jacob Oulanyah Education Trust Fund.
“Jacob Oulanyah is dead but not truly dead. Because we believe in the cause of being our brother’s keeper, in this regard we have set up the Jacob Oulanyah Education Trust Fund which I am previlleged to chair and members include the Rt.Hon Speaker of parliament among others,”Dollo said.
“It is our vow and determination that his children may not see Jacob Oulanyah now physically but their dreams, pursuit of education will continue as if he was alive. Those studying outside will not come back to study in Uganda but will continue where they are. We extend those who were Jacob’s responsibility owing to dependents,” he added
He then urged the mourners to convert their grief into monetary contributions to enable the Fund, and he promised to put all funds to proper use.
“This is going to be possible to its entirety if love shown to Oulanyah by our grief is converted into the contributions for Jacob Oulanyah Education Trust Fund. I give you assurance that not even half a coin of those funds will be put to wrong use. Not under my watch. We will make this a reality.”
On Sunday, mourners were joined by 102 students, most of whom are studying at Seroma High School in Mukono, who were worried about the uncertainty of their education.
The students told mourners that the deceased former speaker picked them from a point where they could not continue with education over several challenges including school fees but noted that he ensured a bright future by enrolling them at Seroma Christian High School in Mukono and paid for everything.
“He used to give us everything. He picked me in 2019 and now I am in s.3. He was not only my sponsor but also my mentor and father. Our humble request to government, especially the speaker is that they should come to our help. The Rt.Hon Jacob Oulanyah used to give us everything. He picked us and built hope in us through education. We are not sure of the future. This might be our last time to go to school,” Prossy Oyella told mourners.
Jacob Oulanyah was the Speaker of the 11th Parliament, whose cause of death and funeral budget have sparked heated debates on social media and mainstream media. He will be laid to rest on Friday.