I first met Jacob Oulanyah, when as young cadre, I was given some assignments that saw me travel around the country, in one of the rarest opportunities, for which I will forever be grateful.
That one single day in 2011, before his rally, Jacob Oulanyah called me, and introduced himself as a unique prodigal, who had found a new home,and needed help.
I told him I was a little no one, and might not help much, but that I would try. “T shirts, two, three, 30, 90 0r multiply that in their hundreds is all I need”, he said. “I am a small man, a candidate, and NRM is my new party”, he added. “I’m also told you are a big girl”, he joked.
Done, I said, even if I had no idea where to get one, 30, or 90 yellow tee-shirts. But I tried. I called two people, one of who, was the then S.G, Rt.Hon PM Emeritus, John Patrick Amama Mbabazi.
Guess what, from the two, I got 1000 tee shirts, each, delivered well to my hotel on time.
Immediately, I called candidate Oulanyah and told him I’d deliver the tee-shirts at his rally. I did that. When he saw me, he told me he knew I was a big girl. “Well,” I thought to myself. “Literally, I am”.
“God bless you my sister, and may God bless our country”, Amen, I said, before we parted ways, him to the microphone, on top of a pickup where the podium had been erected, me to the anthill, as crowds of people kept coming in, each, being handed a yellow tee,as they walked in.
Moments later, President Museveni drove in and the crowds went wild. The North was already well on it’s way, to embracing the NRM Government. Deceit, lies and propaganda against President Museveni, against the party, against the past, against the future had been debunked. The north was peaceful, the north was on it’s long journey to peace and development, except at the time, I didnt know it would all come this fast.
As the President disembarked from the car, candidate Oulanyah, the “small man” danced. He shook. He jumped. He danced. Then he spoke. First, in the local language, then later, in English. It went beyond perfect. A great orator, a man built for leadership. A mentor. A “small man” erupted. None like him! Listen folks. He thanked people who helped him along the way. There-in, somehow, he thanked the two people whose names I had told him-for the tee shirts, and yes, threw my name in there-somehow. Sometimes, a little thank you makes a difference, this was beyond.
Then President Museveni spoke. “Vote for Jacob Oulanyah. He is Ministerial material….”
We maintained friendship and contact over the years,sometimes, exchanging bible verses and quotes. He always read my articles, corrected me or told me “to add this or that next time” A few years later, I received I phone call,at about 7.30am. The “small man” was looking for the “big girl”. He was waiting to queue up in the pavilion for his son’s Identity card.
“Mr Speaker Sir”, I said, even though he was deputy speaker at the time. Quickly, he interjected-“I’m a small man, looking for help from the big people”. I was no longer just the big girl. Now, I’d become part of the “big people”. We chuckled.
I helped him with the ID, and he didnt have to wait. Again, it was an honour to help a deputy speaker who was only willing to line up.
The gesture of 2000 tee shirts must have been so big, or is it because Oulanyah was simple a nice,humble man-i earned an invite to his wedding in Munyonyo, though I couldn’t make it. I saw his pictures and told him they were beautiful. They were indeed, all dressed in white. Still, we kept in touch. He was very sad when details of his divorce were made public. “I will be dignified in the court of public opinion”. That was the text when we agreed that he makes no further comment about it in the press. I had been promoted from “big girl”, to personal adviser-of sorts.
In late November 2021, I had an early appointment in his office. “Big girl”, he said. “I’ve never replayed the 2011 debt, but I will-soon”. “Small man”, I said ” the debt was paid. If I could access his office whenever, and if I could call whenever, or if he could respond to my calls/texts whenever, and if he could advise and counsel me on different issues amidst his busy schedule, surely, the debt was paid.
I asked him why he had become slightly darker and a little smaller. “I’m on strong medication…”, he said.
I met him again two days later and this time, it was three of us in the meeting. He was promising a better Parliament that we could all be proud of.
Let me say something else. He was irked by heads of parastatals and MDAs who were said to be bribing MPs so that their agencies not merged. “This is so premature,so unnecessary….” I wish I could disclose more. I cant.
When his health wasnt so good, I sent him a text. “Get well, Mr.Speaker Sir”.
“God is in control, big girl, keep praying for your small friend”, he responded.
And now, my small friend, the Speaker of Parliament, friend,father, brother, mentor, orator, God’s own-JO is in Heaven.
Rest well, my dear “small man” friend, JO. Heaven was created for you, you were meant for it!
Pamela Ankunda