If I’d known Oulanyah was sick, I would have advised him not to stand for speaker - Museveni

President Museveni has said if he had known about deceased former speaker Jacob Oulanyah’s predicaments, he would have advised him to first focus on his health.

Speaking to mourners on Wednesday at Kololo Independence grounds, Museveni said he got to know about Oulanyah’s cancer illness when he(Oulanyah) travelled to Dubai for treatment.

“Your health is very crucial. Don’t risk it. In this case Oulanyah  was a very disciplined person but I came to know about the problem for the first time when he went to Dubai. What is clear is that if he had told me(about his sickness), apparently, he had these issues to deal with an politics in Omoro constituency, vice chairmanship and speakership. If I had known, I would have told him to concentrate on his health but I didn’t know. It is much later that I came to know, ”Museveni said.

The president emphasized that the health of everyone is very crucial and that everything else can wait until the problem of health is solved.

He also revealed that a minister he didn’t mention had wanted to stand in the latest speakership but noted he advised them against the move since he knows about the health problem that the unnamed minister has that could not allow him ably perform his speakership duties which are so demanding.

“That speakership is very dangerous, sitting there the whole day. It is very dangerous. You shouldn’t accept it if you have any issues. Your friends too should tell you,”Museveni said.

“Health is wealth but also a weapon of struggle. If you are fighters for Africa, you must pay attention to health because you must use it to fight for Africa. When you die, we lose your contribution because individuals can make a difference.”

The president however hailed the deceased speaker for his great contribution to the development of Uganda and Africa at large.

“He had already done good job in uniting northern Uganda. It had been messed up by bad politics. When he became vice chairperson, in short time he had deepened unity. I need to salute Oulanyah and commend him as an example.”

“He used his talents well. He was a good orator .He was hardworking. When we identified and supported him to take responsibility as deputy speaker used that time to multiply his talent. Losing Oulanyah now is a big loss. He was somebody who was coming up and the country was going to get a lot of benefits from him.”