Father of Late Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, Mzee Nathan Okori Adiyo, Dies at 97 in Gulu

Mzee Nathan Okori Adiyo, 97, father of former Parliament Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, has died at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor in Gulu—exactly four years after his son’s passing. 

Uganda is grieving once more as Mzee Nathan Okori Adiyo, the steadfast patriarch and father of the late Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah, has breathed his last at the age of 97.

The respected elder passed away peacefully at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor in Gulu District, closing a remarkable chapter of nearly a century lived in service to family, community, and values that echoed through his son’s distinguished career.

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among broke the news in a somber official statement, expressing deep sorrow on behalf of Parliament and the nation: “It is with a heavy heart that I inform our esteemed colleagues, the Parliament fraternity, and all who loved our brother, the late Rt Hon Jacob Oulanyah, that his father, Mzee Nathan Okori Adiyo, has passed away at the age of 97.”

RIP Mzee Nathan Okori Adiyo

Among offered heartfelt condolences to the grieving family and confirmed that funeral arrangements will be shared soon after discussions with relatives.

Mzee Okori was widely regarded as a pillar of wisdom and discipline—an elder whose guidance helped mold the character and leadership of his son, who served as Speaker of Parliament from 2021 until his untimely death in March 2022.

The timing adds a layer of profound poignancy: Mzee Okori’s passing falls precisely on the fourth anniversary of Jacob Oulanyah’s death, stirring fresh reflection across Omoro District and Uganda’s political landscape.

As tributes flow in for a man who quietly shaped one of the country’s notable families, the nation pauses to honor his long life of quiet strength and enduring legacy.