Former Aruu County MP Odonga Otto has opened up about the challenges he has faced outside elective politics, admitting that leaving Parliament forced him to confront a reality his late father had warned him about.
Speaking during an interview on NBS Television on Thursday night, August 13, Otto reflected on his long career in Parliament and the difficulties of adjusting to life after leaving the political institution.
“I joined Parliament at 23. It's the only place I've worked at and my dad kept telling me that I would be unemployable after Parliament. I've come to realise he was right,” Otto said.
Otto entered Parliament at a relatively young age and went on to spend much of his professional life in elective politics.
His departure from Parliament therefore marked a significant change for a politician whose career had largely been built around public service and political activism.
His remarks offered a rare glimpse into the personal difficulties that can accompany the end of a political career, particularly for leaders who enter elective politics before establishing themselves in other professions.
Otto, who is a trained lawyer, has previously been involved in legal practice and also served as a lecturer at Uganda's Law Development Centre.
However, he left the teaching position in 2025 as he sought to make a political comeback ahead of the 2026 elections.
His comments also came as he continued to participate actively in Uganda's political debate despite being outside Parliament.
During the NBS interview, Otto also weighed in on the question of inclusivity in President Yoweri Museveni's government.
He challenged the President to consider appointing National Unity Platform leader Bobi Wine to a government position, specifically as Foreign Affairs Minister.
“The fact that you are the majority doesn't in any way mean you are right. We need to have a fairly inclusive government,” Otto said.