President yoweri Museveni on Saturday paid his last respects to Aruu County MP Odonga Otto’s father Mzee James Otto, a renowned human rights activist in Northern Uganda who died on September 23.
Mzee Otto, 71 succumbed to Kidney failure at Kirudu hospital in Kampala.
He was laid to rest at his ancestral village in Apiri village, Ogom Sub county Pader district on September 29.
Mr Museveni in a social media post on October 2 said: “I have paid my last respect to Mzee James A.A Otto in Apiri village, Ogom Sub county Pader district. Mzee Otto is father to Hon Odonga Otto, the MP for Auu County.”
The president visited the home of the deceased after attending the international Day of the older persons where he was the chief guest at Bishop Flynn Secondary School in Pader Town council.
Senior Presidential press secretary Mr Don Wanyama said the president advised the family of the late Mzee Otto to engage in agriculture since they have a large land, according to a post on his Facebook page.
Mzee Otto was a key pillar in the formation of Human Rights Focus [HURIFO], a Gulu based NGO with a country wide mandate in 1994. He served as secretary general and the Organisation’s first Executive Director before retiring in 2010.
Mr Otto expressed gratitude to president Museveni for paying respect to his late father.
“I want to thank H.E for paying respect to my late dad James A.A Otto in my village Apiri Ogom Sub county Pader District,” Mr Otto posted on social media.
Odonga- Otto is a member of the Opposition Forum for Democratic Change(FDC). The president’s visit at the legislator’s home send a few tongues wagging even though Museveni is known to pay respect and even attend many burials in the country.
Odongo –Otto is a vocal legislator who is known for causing trouble both wihin his party, the FDC and the ruling NRM.
