The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has been instructed by Parliament to desist from organizing funeral arrangements for the late former Dokolo Woman MP, Cecilia Ogwal, who passed away on Thursday in India at the age of 77 following a brief illness.
Shortly after Ogwal's demise, FDC issued a tentative funeral program spanning seven days before her final send-off. The proposed program included gatherings at various locations, starting from her home in Bugolobi, Kampala, then moving to Adok in Dokolo, Lira city, and Alito in Kole district.
According to FDC's plan, the body would undergo postmortem at Mulago Hospital after arriving at Entebbe, followed by a funeral service at All Saints Cathedral in Kampala and a vigil at her Bugolobi residence. The program also detailed visits to Parliament, Dokolo, Soroti, Lira city, and Kole district, culminating in the final burial.
However, Parliament's Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Chris Obore, denounced FDC's hurriedly released program, emphasizing that the responsibility of arranging Ogwal's burial lies with Parliament.
"Please disregard the purported burial program released by the FDC on its social media platforms. The Speaker of Parliament together with the family will release the funeral arrangements," stated Obore in a press release.
He urged the FDC to show respect and decency and not interfere with the final journey of the highly respected late Hon. Ogwal.
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, revealed that Ogwal's body is expected to arrive in the country on Sunday at 2:10 pm aboard Emirates. The body will then proceed to Mulago Hospital and later to A-Plus Funeral Home. On Monday, the body is scheduled for viewing at Parliament, followed by a special sitting at 12:00 pm. The burial is set to take place next Saturday.
Cecilia Ogwal, a member of FDC since 2011, served on Parliament's budget committee and the committee on physical infrastructure, overseeing policy matters related to lands, housing, urban development, works and transport, and physical planning. Her passing marks the fourth serving MP from the 11th Parliament to have died, following Bishop Patrick Okabe, Jacob Oulanyah, and Charles Okello Macodwogo Engola.
