By Denis Olaka Oper
Pader, May 14, 2008: Aruu County MP Samuel Odonga Otto has told his constituents not to disturb him over the Constituency Development Fund. He said he has so far put to good use the 10 million shillings he received under the fund in 2007.
He stressed that no voter from his constituency has authority to ask for its accountability from him. He also said he had already accounted for the money to the Clerk to Parliament as required and asked those who want to know how he used it to inquire from there.
Otto who was reacting to Lira Palwo Councilor Charles Gatete over the accountability for the fund said he had already received the fund for 2008 and would use it as he wishes.
He however said 10 million shillings is too small to make any significant difference on the ground saying he will advocate for its increase to 500m shillings.
Odonga Otto was addressing Pader district local leaders at the District Council Hall over the weekend.
The MP challenged his critics in Pader to join the race for his seat in big numbers to prove who is manly enough.
He claims his critics were moving around Aruu to tarnish his name and inciting people not to vote for him in the next general elections in 2011.
Odonga Otto named Pader District speaker, Charles Okwir Ray and the Town Council chairman, Patrick Lumumba Okot as the ring leaders.
He said the two were alleging he is childish, corrupt and not fit to steer any constituency in the district.
Odonga said the two can never be elected to parliament when standing against him and dared others with similar sentiments to join the bandwagon and see who is more electable.
In response Pader District Speaker Ray Okwir advised MP Odonga Otto to learn to accept positive criticism and improve on his performance rather than make counter-accusations.
Okwir dismissed Otto’s claim saying it is people from his constituency who are demanding to know how he used the 2007 Constituency Development Fund.
He added that Otto is also bitter with him for stopping people from settling in the former Achol-Pii Refugee camp near the 5th Division headquarters.
Okwir however said he has not yet declared his intension to contest for Aruu constituency but Otto is now panicking and making all sort of allegations about his political critics.
Filed under: Pader Uganda
