Members of Parliament on Tuesday paid tribute to the late Pallisa Woman MP Faith Alupo.
Alupo, passed away at Mulago Hospital last week, aged 36 with her death being attributed to COVID-19 while others say she died of high blood pressure and diabetes.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, in a motion read on his behalf by 2nd Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio Ali Kirunda Kivejinja, described MP Alupo as a modest, amiable person.
“The Late Hon. Alupo Faith died at a time when we needed her the most at 36 years; she was a good cadre of the National Resistance Movement; she was a reliable, committed, respectable and committed servant of the people,” said Rugunda.
The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Betty Aol Ocan seconded the motion, extolling Alupo for her efforts to transform her constituency.
“She had started embarking on several projects to support her constituency,” she said.
Ms Alupo’s humility is a virtue that checkered all the speeches made in her memory, a thing MP Andrew Baryayanga (IND, Kabale Municipality), who also seconded the motion, alluded to.
“We can pick a leaf from her calm demeanor and diligence; Uganda has lost a resource in her as a legislator and social worker; I commend her for her noble service,” said Baryayanga.
The Minister of State for Local Government, Hon. Jennifer Namuyangu, urged Parliament to take up the responsibility of supporting MP Alupo’s two children, a matter Speaker Rebecca Kadaga agreed to.
“What do we do to support her family; it is my prayer that we stand with and support the family, especially the young children,” she said.
“We shall take up what Hon. Namuyangu has asked us to do,” said Kadaga, who took a swipe at government for keeping Parliament in the dark in regard to the Covid-19 situation at the Legislature.
“We have had situations where hints are thrown about the Covid-19 status of MPs and staff; as the head of the institution, I waited for a communication from the Ministry of Health to inform me about the Covid-19 status at Parliament, but no one wrote to me,” she said.
On suspicions that MP Alupo succumbed to Covid-19, Speaker Kadaga said: “No one has said anything and that is a difficult situation; I did not know she was sick, I was just informed that she had died.”
The deceased legislator will be laid to rest on Wednesday September 23, 2020 at her home in Ataritoi Village, Ajepet Parish, Gogonyo Sub County in Pallisa district.
