The burial of the late Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah will cost the government at least Shs 2.5 billion, Nile Post has learned.
According to a tentative budget that has been seen by this website, Acholi MPs have been allocated Shs 312.9 million, while the A-Plus funeral services will receive Shs 226 million to handle the burial process.
The finance committee has also been allocated Shs 248.7 million while security will take Shs 158.5 million and fuel will cost Shs 124 million.
According to the tentative budget, the day the body of the departed speaker will be laid to rest will cost the government Shs 1.1 billion to cover arrangements of food, drinks among other necessities.
Nile Post understands that the law provides for the Speaker to be buried with 30 percent of his annual salary towards burial expenses.
Schedule four, Part D of the Parliamentary Pensions Act is very particular on the issue regarding the burial of the Speaker of Parliament.
It states that S/He will be accorded a state funeral with 30% of their annual salary used towards that funeral.
"Don’t worry about these figures." the Minister in charge of the Presidency, Milly Babalanda said in a tweet that Ugandans should not worry about the figures on the budget as these do not matter.
The minister asked the public not to traumatise the mourning family of the deceased Speaker.
“Regarding the budget for burying Rt. Hon. Oulanyah, what matters is not the figures but the activities involved and status of the deceased. Let us avoid traumatising the family in this trying time,” the minister said in a tweet.
The late Oulanyah died on March 20, 2022, in Seattle, the United States of America where he had earlier been admitted after suffering a terminal illness.
His body is expected to be flown back to the country on Friday, this week according to the government.
According to Babalanda, when the body arrives in the country, there will be a series of weeklong activities preceding the burial in Omoro.
President Museveni last week directed that the Ugandan flag, one for the East African Community and all flags in Uganda should be flown at half-mast at all public buildings and public grounds to mourn the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah.
”I direct that the flags in Uganda fly at half-mast until the burial of the Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah. This is provided for in the official burials’ procedures. More will be said and communicated as we go along,” Museveni said in a message on Monday afternoon.
Following the death, questions about the body’s return arose after Parliament decided to have elections to fill his position in accordance with the Constitution.
Article 82(4) of the Constitution of Uganda provides that no business shall be transacted in Parliament other than an election to the office of Speaker at any time that office is vacant.