On the floor of the Ugandan Parliament, Honorable Odonga Otto, who represents the people of Aruu County is a vocal legislator. He articulates issues at hand with the ease of an Eskimo skating on Ice bergs.
Out of the august house, Otto is a casual gentleman, often one can mistake him for any other ordinary citizen in the community as he freely mixes with the locals – brain storming ideas that he will again use in the house debates.
During this year’s Kampala Pool Open Championships that took place at Capital Pub in Kabalagala, the Member of Parliament was the first among those 256 male participants to register for the championships, whose winner, Salongo Asuman Bukenya pocketed Ushs. 1,000,000.
Otto lost out (1-3) in the opening round in the best of 5 games played. Perhaps, this never discouraged the pool loving legislator, he stayed at the playing arena till the the entire duration of this two day long tourney.
“Pool is part of my life. I play and support my home based club (Gulu Pool Club) and this year we did well in the club knock outs”, he tells Kawowo Sports.
Through out the duration of the tourney, Hon Otto’s eyes were glued on the pool tables, watching other players either tussling it out or in practice sessions that he says will make him a better player over time.
“I play with these best players in the country to improve on my skills”, he speaks as he cues up to take a shot.
Fellow pool players love his free interaction with them. “Honorable is a social person, he knows and loves the game at heart. At times we forget he is an MP as we freely chat and play with him”, Sula Matovu, a top pool seed player says of the youthful member of Parliament.
ABOUT ODONGA OTTO:
Born Samuel Odonga Otto on 11th November 1977 in Aruu County, Pader District, the youthful legislator is a Forum For Democratic Change (FDC) leaning Politician.
A few years back, Otto exchanged bitter words with Col. Phinehas Katirima, the army representative over the plans to impeach President Yoweri Museveni as he pleaded with Katirima to sign the impeachment forms owing to article 107 of the constitution for the republic of Uganda.
Otto is a lawyer by profession. He chairs the committee on Government Assurances and a member on the Presidential Affairs Committee.