Embarrassing moment as Jacob Mudenda fails to join Africa in mourning Ugandan Speaker of Parliament

The new dispensation has been busy building relations at a global level. It comes as a surprise that Uganda lost its Speaker of Parliament, several Speakers of Parliament across Africa sent their condolences while Zimbabwean Speaker Jacob Mudenda and Parliament of Zimbabwe remained silent.

This has caused analysts and foreign policy experts to question whether Parliament of Zimbabwe and the Speaker Jacob Mudenda are committed towards the new dispensation's reengagement policy with African governments.

Uganda and Zimbabwe Committed to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation in November 2021. Amb. Kintu Nyago, Uganda's Ag. High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa met with Mr. T. Muranga the AG. Director for Africa, Asia and Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Zimbabwe to discuss issues of bilateral interest.

President ED Mnangagwa and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni met and agreed to build Zimbabwe Uganda relations.

Jacob Mudenda has made several friends and held several meetings with Western ambassadors and it would be expected that the Speaker of Parliament would take Centre stage in joining the people of Uganda as they mourn their speaker of parliament.

Jacob Oulanyah the Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament died after a short illness.

Jacob L'Okori Oulanyah was a Ugandan agricultural economist, lawyer and politician, who served as the Speaker of the 11th Parliament of Uganda. He was elected to that position on 24 May 2021, after defeating the former Speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga

President Yoweri Museveni announced the death of the Speaker he said, "20th March, 2022

Countrymen and Countrywomen.

It is with a lot of sadness that I announce the death of the Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah, the Speaker of Parliament.

I got information of this sad news at 10.30am, East African time from People that have been with him and the doctor that was caring for him in the intensive care unit.

He was a good Cadre. I delayed the announcement so that his children would be informed first.

May His soul Rest In Peace."

The Prime Minister of Uganda Nabbanja Robinah added that, "The death of our Speaker of Parliament  Jacob Oulanyah is such  a huge loss to our country, to NRM and to our democracy. He was one of the most sober, committed and supportive leaders I have worked with and learnt from. It's terrible that we have not got the chance to fully tap into his leadership as Speaker of the House. Condolences to HE President Museveni , his family, relatives and friends. Rest in Peace brother."

In a rare show of unity Bobi Wine the leader of Uganda's largest opposition party also joined in mourning the speaker of parliament he said, "I join the people of Uganda in mourning the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Jacob L'Okori Oulanyah.

On behalf of the @NUP_Ug and on my own behalf, I extend deep condolences to his family, friends, the people of Acholi Sub-region and all Ugandans. May his soul rest in peace."

Hopefully Jacob Mudenda and Parliament of Zimbabwe will rectify this unAfrican tendency of not passing condolences on the death of a counterpart from a fellow African country. Zimbabwe Uganda relations are very important as witnessed by President ED Mnangagwa's efforts to strength relations between the two countries.