Daily Monitor
Sunday May 02 2021
Summary
Aruu County MP Samuel Odonga Otto lost his seat to Independent candidate Christopher Komakech in the just concluded elections. The long-serving MP has also been in and out of police cells since then, and blames his woes on Deputy Inspector General of Police, Gen Paul Lokech, who he says is trying to finish him off politically to protect his relative.
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At 6:36pm on March 30, outgoing Aruu County MP Samuel Odonga Otto tweeted: “Deputy IGP [Inspector General of Police] Paul Lokech is politically persecuting me having got his son elected MP Aruu. I wish to thank President Gen Museveni for his intervention that got me out after seven days in jail.”
Why Acholi’s long-serving lawmakers were defeated
Sunday February 28 2021
NRM candidate Yoweri Museveni (R) arrives for a campaign meeting at Watoto Church in Gulu City on November 16, 2020. PHOTOS/ FILE
Summary
Aswa County Member of Parliament (MP) Ronald Reagan Okumu, who has been in Parliament since 1996, was one of the 12 lawmakers in Acholi sub-region who lost in the January polls. Others include Aruu County MP Samuel Odonga Otto, Agago North MP Moris Ogenga-Latigo and Kitgum Municipality MP Beatrice Anywar.
Tobbias Jolly Owiny finds out why they lost.
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Aswa County Member of Parliament (MP) Ronald Reagan Okumu has said he does not have the energy and time to challenge the outcome of the January 14 elections in which he emerged fourth.
Daily Monitor
Saturday February 27 2021
Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah (left) and Speaker Rebecca Kadaga chairing plenary sessions of Parliament. Photo/ David Lubowa
Summary
Among the teams canvassing votes for the two rivals for the Speaker of Parliament job are MPs who were defeated in last month’s election but are still considered influential.
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Underground work for the Speaker of Parliament job is fiercely going on, with Speaker Rebecca Kadaga and her deputy Jacob Oulanyah having already formed core teams to reach out to MPs-elect ahead of the election scheduled for May 20.
Sources at Parliament told Saturday Monitor that Ms Kadaga’s team is headed by her personal assistant, Mr Peter Busiku, Bugiri Municipality MP and Jeema president Asuman Basalirwa, Bugabula South MP (NRM) Maurice Kibalya, Kalungu West MP Joseph Ssewungu, and outgoing Mukono South MP Johnson Muyanja Ssenyonga.
Daily Monitor
Sunday February 14 2021
Summary
After reading these words, I was instantly impressed by Otto. But that was not always the case.
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We’re stronger than we can imagine. Recently I lost an election but I love the way the human mind incredibly adjust. I’m stronger in defeat than I thought I was and gladly take on unfolding life challenges. After 20 years on a fast lane, let me take the slow lane. Time to be led,” Odonga Otto, outgoing Aruu County MP, reportedly said recently.
After reading these words, I was instantly impressed by Otto. But that was not always the case.
Why 12 MPs lost bid for re-election in Acholi
Thursday January 28 2021
Summary
The lawmaker reportedly started feeling unwell last Saturday, two days after he lost his bid to represent the people of Aruu County in Parliament.
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On Tuesday, January 19, Mr Samuel Odonga Otto, the Aruu County Member of Parliament, was taken to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital in Gulu Town after he collapsed while recording a statement at Pader Central Police Station in Pader District.
The lawmaker reportedly started feeling unwell last Saturday, two days after he lost his bid to represent the people of Aruu County in Parliament.
While being interrogated by police for allegedly escaping from lawful custody on January 6 at Rackoko Trading Centre in Awere Sub-county, Pader District, Mr Odonga developed fever and nausea and subsequently collapsed.