The day departed Speaker Jacob Oulanyah will be buried shall be designated a public holiday, according to the Parliamentary Pensions Act, which among others stipulates benefits for the speaker and deputy speaker in the event of death or retirement.
Oulanyah died over the weekend in Seattle, US, where he has been battling an unknown illness for two months. His death sent shock waves across the country and united the often fractious political class.
Oulanyah is the first speaker of parliament in Uganda to die in office (former Speakers James Wapakhabulo and Francis Ayume died after they had left office)
This means that for the first time, Ugandans will witness the process and procedures followed during the burial of a speaker.
While no date has been set yet for Oulanyah's burial, the law stipulates that the day the speaker or deputy speaker is buried is designated a public holiday.
Section 16 of Part D of the Parliamentary Pensions Act sates that: "A public holiday shall be declared on the day of burial, in accordance with the Public Holidays Act."
According to the same law, a person who dies while holding the office of Speaker or Deputy
Speaker shall be accorded a state funeral.
The law says that 30% of the gross salary of the speaker or deputy speaker shall be used towards funeral expenses.
The speaker is the highest earning MP in the House. Besides the numerous benefits and allowances, sources said the Speaker earns a gross salary of Shs 40 million per month, which brings the annual gross salary of the speaker to Shs 480 million.
Therefore to cover part of Oulanyah's funeral expenses, the law says 30% of 480 million, which is Shs 130 million shall be used.
Other procedures to be followed according to the law are:
- Government shall declare a mourning period.
- Martial music shall be played on national radio during the mourning
period.
- National flags shall be flown at half mast during the mourning period.
- The casket shall be draped in the national flag.
- The casket cortege shall be escorted by the Uganda Police Force in
top-roof flash light vehicles.
- The casket shall be carried by ceremonially uniformed pall bearers from the Uganda Police ForceThe body shall lie in state for one day, for public viewing.
- A condolence book shall be opened for signing by political leaders,
dignitaries and the public.
- An official guard shall keep vigil and a bright light shall light the
casket throughout the night.
- Parliament shall pay tribute to the Speaker or Deputy Speaker with a
band in attendance playing dirges.
- A funeral service shall be held in honour of the late Speaker or Deputy Speaker in a place of worship or in a place designated by Cabinet.
- The casket shall be transported to the burial place by a hearse.
At the burial, there shall be a seventeen gun salute.