MP Fox Odoi defiant as Jopadhola elders give him ultimatum to deliver written apology to paramount chief
When contacted for comment, Odoi said the ultimatum is laughable, saying he is not going to apologise to anybody because their decision is a mere wishful thinking.
West Budama North East Member of Parliament (MP) Fox Odoi Oywelowo said he doesn’t have any regrets and would not apologise for his actions. (Courtesy photo)
By Faustine Odeke
Journalists @New Vision
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The Jopadhola council of elders has given West Budama North East Member of Parliament (MP) Fox Odoi Oywelowo and his cohorts a seven-day ultimatum to deliver a written apology to their cultural leader or risk being isolated throughout Padhola.
The demand follows his alleged confrontation with the cultural institution's prime minister, Josel Obbo.
The chairperson of Padhola Elders Forum, Thomas Okoth Nyalulu, on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, told the media that the kind of misconduct and disrespect exhibited by Odoi has caused an uproar and ridicule not only to the person of the prime minister but to the cultural institution of Tieng Adhola (paramount chief) and the entire community of Padhola.
‘’We, the leaders of Tieng Adhola of different categories: The elders, the cabinet, the supreme assembly, senior royal advisors and clan heads, have learnt with dismay the misconduct of Odoi and his cohorts during a meeting with local government minister Raphael Magyezi on September 16 at the ministry boardroom.
In the said meeting, Odoi allegedly abused, attacked, insulted and consequently humiliated the prime minister of Padhola as depicted by many recordings that have been circulated on social media.
"This has further depicted a wrong image of our cherished cultural institution, its leadership and her subjects in the country and Diaspora," Nyalulu said.
The two leaders are said to have engaged in confrontations after disagreeing on the exact headquarters of the proposed new Kisoko district.
Whereas Odoi wants Nagongera town council to host the district headquarters, his counterpart, West Budama North MP Max Ochai and the cultural institution want Kisoko county headquarters to be the district headquarters.
The chairperson of Padhola Elders Forum, Thomas Okoth Nyalulu addressing the media. (Photo by Faustine Odeke)
Odoi reportedly questioned the involvement of the cultural institution in purely political matters.
Flanked by several elders, Nyalulu said that as a cultural institution, they have an obligation to be involved in shaping the destiny of it's people and protect their heritage and identity.
He said that as leaders of Tieng Adhola, they take Odoi’s statement as a deliberate move to undermine their cherished cultural institution, and it’s unacceptable.
However, Odoi, who was interviewed in Rock Mambo Radio's early morning programme on Monday, said he doesn’t have any regrets and would not apologise for his actions.
On the proposed districts, Nyalulu further said the parent Tororo district should be headquartered in Kisoko since the current constitution has not been amended.
‘’To do away with Tororo district without amending the current constitution of Uganda or holding a referendum is irregular and unlawful. Should the laws be amended or a referendum be held and the results eliminate Tororo district, we propose the new district be called Kisoko to be hosted in Kisoko county headquarters’’ he stated.
On Monday, the majority of leaders from the 11 sub-counties that constitute the new district met in Nagongera and resolved to have the district hosted in Nagongera.
A technical team from the ministry has also pitched camp on the ground, consulting with the masses, on the possible boundaries and proposed district headquarters.
Odoi's take
When contacted for comment, Odoi said the ultimatum is laughable, saying he is not going to apologise to anybody because their decision is a mere wishful thinking.
Odoi said he has a lot of respect for Adhola cultural leader Moses Stephen Owori, but not for what he termed as the masqueraders that surround him because 'they are unjust, unfair, and they lack common sense'.
"I was brought up to fight for justice, equality, non-discrimination and fairness to do so judiciously and fairly. My father used to tell us that if you are given a choice to live on your knees in perpetuity or death, always choose death, and I am not going to live on my knees for anybody," he stated.
Odoi said he is speaking on behalf of 65,000 adult males from the nine sub-counties who want Nagongera to host the district headquarters, adding that the battle is what they are prepared for at every cost, and they are willing to lose everything for the Padhola not to be subjected to unfairness.
‘’How can a prosecutor be a witness and a judge to demand that I must apologise, they must have subjected me to due process, told me the crimes I committed, and they must have subjected me to a partial jury for me to be found guilty for them to demand an apology from me’’ Odoi added.
On the proposed districts, Nyalulu further said the parent Tororo district should be headquartered in Kisoko since the current constitution has not been amended.
‘’To do away with Tororo district without amending the current constitution of Uganda or holding a referendum is irregular and unlawful. Should the laws be amended or a referendum be held and the results eliminate Tororo district, we propose the new district be called Kisoko to be hosted in Kisoko county headquarters," he said.
On Monday, the majority of leaders from the 11 sub-counties that constitute the new district met in Nagongera and resolved to have the district hosted in Nagongera.
A technical team from the ministry has also pitched camp on the ground, consulting with the masses on the possible boundaries and proposed district headquarters.