Gulu University is set to award a posthumous honorary doctorate of Law (Ph.D.) to the former speaker of parliament Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah.
The move initiated by the government through the ministry of Education and Sports seeks to recognize Oulanyah’s contribution to legal practice in the country.
Joyce Moriko Kaducu, the state minister for Primary Education says her ministry will work with Gulu University for the award that recognizes Oulanyah’s brain in legal practices as well as the national guidance he offered the parliament.
Kaducu made the revelation last week during an emergency full council meeting held jointly by the local council governments from Acholi, Lango, and West Nile sub-regions. Chris Ongom, the vice-chairman of the Uganda District Council Speakers Association said that the fallen speaker of parliament deserves the posthumous honorary award.
He says Oulanyah helped their association to formulate three legal documents which include the revised rules of procedures, a strategic development plan, and a capacity-building document that is helping the council speakers in their work.
Ongom says just like the late Paul Lokech’s rank was elevated posthumously, it is also ideal to award Oulanyah with the posthumous Ph.D. since he was a brilliant lawyer who did not only serve his country but also the entire world.
Gulu University vice-chancellor, Prof George Openjuru Ladaah, however, says the ministry has not yet engaged the university regarding the awarding of the posthumous Ph.D. to Oulanyah.
According to Openjuru, the university shall require the deceased’s credentials before the senate can hold a meeting to award him. He however acknowledged that the university shall name a block at the faculty of Law after Oulanyah.
Oulanyah who died on March 20, 2022, in Seattle in the United States of America due to cancer obtained a bachelor’s degree in Law from Makerere University in 1994 and a postgraduate diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Center (LDC) in 1995.
He was a lecturer at LDC, then started his private law firm called Onoria and Company Advocates before joining active politics.
Source: Observer
