Rest in Peace and Glory, Hon. Imat Cecilia Ogwal, MP!

Hon Imat Cecilia Ogwal was one of the most forthright, plain-speaking, articulate, and eloquent Ugandan/African political leaders I have had the blessing to know.

She was the master of political discourse through metaphors and analogies! And she would make her point very, very clearly without any shadow of doubt!

Case in point: many Ugandans may still remember the political metaphor and analogy attributed to her that “NRM may be good, but it is like good meat being sold by lepers. Who wants to buy meat sold by lepers, however good it is?”

In 2008/2009, I (GPJ) was at the receiving end of one of Hon. Imat Cecilia Ogwal’s point-blank political metaphors and analogies.

I was part of the Pincer Group International Ltd (TPGIL) Consultants with Dr Milton Mutto, Tom Duku (RIP), Dr Betty Pacutho Udongo,  Dr David Dronyi, Prof Stephen Lawoko (RIP), etc..  TPGIL was implementing a USAID-supported project of Education Recovery in Northern Uganda under the PRDP. We had just managed a very, very successful District Local Governments’ Leaders Summit in Education Renaissance in Northern and Eastern Uganda under the PRDP.

This was sponsored by Uganda Local Governments Assassination (ULGA) in  Northern and Eastern Uganda in partnership with MoES, OPM and USAID.

The suave Mr Francis X.K Lubanga was then PS MoES and gave his unqualified support and backing.

• Hon Richard Andama Ferua, then LC5 Chairman of Arua District and ULGA Vice Chairperson;
• Hon Nobert Mao, LC5 Chairperson of Gulu District and;
• Amb Charles Walimbwa, LC5 Chairperson of Manafwa District –

Were the 3 Co-Convenors of the Leadership Summit, held in St Monica Vocational Skills Training Centre, Gulu Municipality on 8th June 2008

Other LC5 Chairperson Champions of the Leadership Summit on Education Renaissance under PRDP included

• Hon Sam Mulomi, LC5 Chairperson of Budaka District;
• Hon Wilson Watira, LC5 Chairperson of Bududa District and
• Hon Richard Waya, LC5 Chairperson of   Butaleja District.

Several MPs attended the District Local Governments Leadership Summit on Education Renaissance in Northern and Eastern Uganda under the PRDP, such as Hon Geoffrey Ekanya

Mr Vincent Opio Lukone (RIP) then Deputy  Head of Public Service and Cabinet Affairs also attended the Leadership Summit and liked it very, very much.

Then Prime Minister Rt Hon Professor Apolo Nsibambi (RIP) officially opened the Leadership Summit, and H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni closed it officially.  H.E. the President was very excited about the output of the Leadership Summit,  namely,  “Blue Print of Education Renaissance in Northern and Eastern Uganda under the PRDP.” He pledged that the Central Government would respond on the Blue Print within 3 months!

So, after the Leadership Summit in Gulu, I (GPJ) with TPGIL colleagues visited Parliament to mobilize support for the Blue Print from Greater North MPs. That’s when Hon. Imat Cecilia Ogwal, MP, walked into our meeting.

She said:

“Piwang, you better tell us clearly what you are doing [with Museveni] in the North. Because for us, Politicians, what we don’t understand; WE ATTACK!”

That was vintage Hon. Imat Cecilia Ogwal, MP:

• Point-blank,
• Plain-speaking,
• Forthright,
• Articulate,
• Eloquent and,
• Master of political discourse through metaphors and analogies!

Rest in Peace and Glory, Hon. Imat Cecilia Ogwal, MP!

@ George Piwang-Jalobo,

Lango College, Lira, 1971-6; Head Librarian The JF Kennedy Library, 1975-6; Odora House, 1975-6; Ogwangguji House, 1971-4.