As the Court of Appeal starts to hear election petitions today, Aruu County’s Odonga Otto has announced that he has retired from elective politics. Otto is one of the MPs whose cas is scheduled to be heard. He challenged the victory of his opponent Christopher Komakech on grounds that the latter had not resigned from his job at Mulago Referral Hospital before going into politics. High Court nullified the election. Komakech appealed, and a decision is yet to be made.
Otto says whatever comes from the Court of Appeal, he will not seek re-election.
“I am retiring from Ugandan elective politics. I know there is a difference between “quitting” and “having enough”. No matter the outcome of Elec. Appeal No. 002 of 2021, I will not seek re-election now or in 2026”
Otto has been one of the longest-serving Members of Parliament (MP) in Uganda. He joined parliament in 2001 when he was 23 years old. In 2013, he however said he would retire from politics, but pushed on.
