The Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among, has called for a Special Sitting of Parliament tomorrow Thursday December 22, to pay tribute to Serere County Member of Parliament, Patrick Okabe, who died in a motor accident on Monday.
The crash which also killed Okabe’s wife, Christine happened at Naboa along the Mbale Tirinyi road in Budaka District.
He collided head-on collision with a Kenya truck while driving with his wife and driver to Kampala in his V8 Landcruiser.
Police attributed the accident to the Isuzu box body driver who drifted from his side to the side of the Land cruiser that was coming from Mbale heading to Iganga and had a head on collision.
Now, in a notice to Members of Parliament seen by the news website, Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, the Clerk to Parliament, says the the Special Sitting will be held at 10am tomorrow.
“I have been directed by the Rt. Hon Speaker to inform you that Parliament will hold a Special Sitting to pay tribute to the late Hon Okabe Patrick on Thursday 22nd December, 2022 at 10.00am,” reads the Clerk’s Notice to MPs.
Meanwhile, the office of the Clerk to Parliament, has also released the deceased’s burial program indicating that his body left funeral home in Mengo today Wednesday December 21 at 9:30am to his home in Namyoya Village near Africa Oil Petro-Station along Sonde-Seeta road where a Church service and Vigil were held.
On Thursday, his body will be received at Parliament by the Speaker accompanied by Clerk to Parliament, Commissioners and Members of Parliament. The Special Sitting to pay tribute to the deceased will then commence.
Later at 2pm on Thursday, the body will leave Parliament for Mbale City for Overnight Prayers and Vigil.
On Friday December 22, 2022, the body leaves, Mbale City for Serere District for public viewing and Special District Council sitting. Thereafter, the body lies in his ancestral home for Vigil overnight.
On Saturday December 24, 2022, Burial Ceremony will be held at the ancestral home in Serere District, Ochapa Town Council, Oburin ward beginning at 10am.
The late Okabe is also the founder of Faith FM, a Christian radio in Mbale city, and Rhema High school in Soroti.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa eulogized the MP as a true voice of reason, an author, a passionate believer in God and peace maker.
“Extremely sad to comprehend the passing on of Hon. Patrick Okabe, MP Serere County. A true voice of reason, an author, a passionate believer in the Almighty and Peace Maker. Hon. Okabe has died at a time when we needed him most! Condolences to the family,” he tweeted.