KAMPALA: Former Aruu County MP Odonga Otto has announced his retirement from elective politics. Otto, who lost his bid to retain the Aruu County seat in the 2021 General Election, said he will not seek re-election now or in 2026.
He also announced that irrespective of the outcome of his election petition against Christopher Komakech, he will not seek re-election
“I am retiring from Ugandan elective politics. I know there is a difference between “quiting”and “having enough”. No matter the outcome of Elec. Appeal No. 002 of 2021, I will not seek re-election now or in 2026,” he announced on Twitter on Monday, February 14, 2022.
Otto lost the bid to retain the Aruu County Parliamentary seat for the fifth term in the just concluded parliamentary elections after losing to Christopher Komakech, an Independent candidate who scored 9,327 votes against Odonga’s 5,953.
In the 2016 General elections, Otto beat his NRM rival, James Navinson Kidega when he scored 14,216 votes against Kidega’s 12,653 in the disputed run.
Odonga is one of the 12 lawmakers in Acholi region who lost in the just concluded elections.
Aswa County MP, Ronald Reagan Okumu who had been in parliament since 1996, also polled less than 2200 votes to emerge 4th in the contest that was won by NRM’s Simon Wokorach with more than 14,000 votes.
Okumu, who contested as an independent candidate in 2016 against FDC’s Christopher Achire won in the race for Aswa County Constituency having obtained 16,859 votes against Achire’s 5,316 votes.