Speaker R. Hon. Anita AnitahAmong today led Parliament in paying tribute for former Dokolo District Woman MP, Cecilia Atim Ogwal, describing her as an accomplished Member of Parliament who put her country first in all her deeds.
Cecilia Ogwal succumbed to cancer-related illness on Thursday morning in India and today her body was brought to parliament where a special sitting had been convened to honor her service to the country. During the afternoon session, members paid glowing tribute to the deceased politician.
“She was an advocate of a just and a fair society that works for everybody. Atim is un-replaceable icon who will be dearly missed by this House. When I would like to have a balanced debate, I would just look on my left, and I am wondering, how will I be looking on my left? Who is that person that can always come and will not talk politics but would talk for this country?” remarked
Anita Among.
Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja who led the Executive in paying tribute to Ogwal, described the deceased as a fountain of knowledge and wisdom, who was a member of both the young and the old in Uganda’s political arena.
“Although the late Ogwal was an opposition politician, she was a good friend to President Museveni and that is why he always referred to her as his sister. She has been an eloquent legislator who legislated objectively with passion. She has been a nationalist, who always fronted the country first, above any other political affiliations. She has left a footprint as a patriot in advocating for women rights and girl child,” noted Nabbanja.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Nobert Mao described Cecilia as a gallant states woman, who wasn’t only a fun loving lady but also assertive and empathetic in nature and that she was capable of understanding people without judging them -qualities he said enabled the late to live true to the motto of Uganda.
“The spirit in which we are debating is the true spirit in which true kind of person she was. I had a little chat with Miria Matembe and I asked her, what would you say, she said, Cecilia Ogwal was always for God and for Country. I think nothing summarises the person we are celebrating more than that.” Mao stated.
The Leader of Opposition (LOP) Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi eulogized Cecilia Ogwal as one who embodied peace and was an ardent advocate of affirmative action, rights of women and the girl child and she was a champion of the rule of law and democratic governance.
“While Uganda may never see another Imat Cecilia Ogwal, she has inspired countless men and women of valour. Ogwal has consistently exhibited compassion and a strong commitment to foster our national democracy. She gained notoriety when she blatantly opposed the monolithic Movement system which had outlawed multipartism in our Country. lt was this bold stance that earned her the appellation – ‘Iron Lady’ – a respect she has greatly walked with in life and guarded in action and candid speech,” said Ssenyonyi.
David Livingstone Zijjan (Butembe County) who is also the dean for independents in the 11th Parliament described Cecilia Ogwal as a truthful selfless leader who was also incorruptible.
“How does one sum up the life and legacy of such a leader towering in every respect? The world out there assumes that politicians are self seekers who pursue enrichment at the expense of the public. If such an assumption had any iota of truth, Cecilia would be the exception because hers, has been a life without scandal,” Zijan said.
Health minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng described Cecilia as a patriotic leader who strongly supported the establishment by law of the specialized institutions including Uganda Heart Institute and the Uganda Cancer Institute, emphasizing the need to give autonomy to these institutions to function as specialities.