President Yoweri Museveni has issued directives for the official burial of the late Dokolo district Woman MP, Cecilia Ogwal, who passed away on Thursday, January 18. The President, expressing his personal condolences, will attend the vigil in her honor at Parliament on Monday, January 22.
Minister for the Presidency Milly Babalanda conveyed the President’s decision via the social media platform X on Saturday. The official burial status signifies that the Government will bear all expenses and extend the honor of a gun salute to the deceased veteran opposition politician. Cecilia Ogwal, widely known as the “Iron Lady” in political circles, had a distinguished career in Parliament since 1985, serving as a Constituent Assembly delegate (1985-1993) and later as an MP from 1996 to 2024.
Ogwal, who succumbed to cancer at the age of 77 in an Indian hospital, is set to be laid to rest on Saturday, January 27, at her residence in Dog Gudu Cell, Alito Town Council, Kole district.
The official funeral program includes the arrival of Ogwal’s body at Entebbe International Airport on Sunday, with Speaker Anita Among receiving it. The body will then be taken to Mulago Hospital in Kampala and later to A-Plus Funeral home. Subsequently, the late legislator’s remains will be transported to her residence in Bugolobi for an overnight vigil.
On Monday, the body will be moved to Parliament for public viewing in the morning and a special sitting at midday for MPs to pay their respects. The body will then lie in state overnight at Parliament.
Tuesday will witness the body’s departure to All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero, for a funeral service at 9 am, followed by the final journey to Dokolo district for a vigil at Adok sub-county.
Wednesday’s schedule includes the body departing for a joint council meeting at Dokolo district headquarters, followed by a vigil in Lira city.
On Thursday, the late MP’s body will leave the Lira residence for church services at St Augustine Cathedral, Bar Ogole, and St Paul Church, Alito Archdeaconry in Kole district. The body will then be transported to her home in Dog Gudu Cell, Alito town council in Kole district for the vigil.
Friday will witness a church service at the late Ogwal’s home in Alito at 10 am, followed by the viewing of the body.
The burial programme will commence at 9 am on Saturday, culminating in her interment later in the day.
