Why wed? I''m already married - Odonga Otto

Outspoken Aruu MP Odonga Otto and his wife Juliet Oyulu were attracted to each other at a small function at Munyonyo. Out of curiosity, he says he made several advances to Juliet, until what started as an attraction turned into marriage.

The couple has three children Yumi, Rupee and Israel. Juliet and Otto work together in their chambers, Oyulu, Ondonga-Otto and Co. Advocates. They shared their love life with Samuel Lutwama

Why wed? I’m already married - Otto

When did you meet Juliet?

We met six years ago at a function in Munyonyo What attracted you to her? It was out curiosity that I came to love her, because if one moves by attraction, he may be disappointment. Beauty is relative and can be deceptive.

Do you mean to say your feelings sprung out of curiosity?

First of all, I was interested in the way she was dressed. She was so elegant and graceful. Somehow, I became curious. When I approached her, I discovered that she was a lawyer.

We exchanged business cards and several casual meetings followed. But what surprised me more, on my first date with her, she was late, saying she got stuck in jam. It was interesting to know that she had a car. Many more surprises came in until the proposal.

When did you propose to her?

 We dated for a year. But during that year, she was so much into showbiz, given that she had been a model before. I remember one time we went out to dance and to my surprise, I saw her face with others models hanging on a calendar.

Honestly, I was a bit perplexed, but I had already made up my mind and there was no turning back.

How did you convince her to drop her passion?

I sat down with her and tried to change her perception on the things she was attached. Before long, she lost interest in modeling and friends who turned out to be my immediate enemies because I snatched their friend from them.

The second challenge was to convince her to turn away from working as a company secretary with a monthly salary of three million.

I personally felt it was not good for a married woman to wake up at 6:00am in the morning and come back late in the evening at the expense of her family. I saw it in a perspective that someone’s life should not be taken up by money.

Did you influence her to leave her job and start her own chambers?

We sat down and looked at it beyond the money she was getting until we came to realise that sh3m was not worth enslaving her. Then the firm was borne so that she could make more money. Was it your intention to marry a lawyer? Before we met, I was a graduate of political science and I was yet to finish my master’s degree.

But all this changed when our love deepened. I dropped the programme and enrolled for a law course in order to level the ground. However, she is my senior in legal matters.

What is it like, working with your wife?

The immediate challenge is that she is my senior because she was enrolled as an advocate four years before me. The law requires the senior person to make all the important decisions. In reality, she is my senior counsel and she has to take lead in all decision making.

However, in most cases, I make bold decisions as the head of the family, which at times causes friction .

How do you handle working with her?

We are four partners and my wife is the senior lawyer in our firm. She is so detailed and a little slower than me. The problem is that I always want things done according to my pace. Somehow, we match because we complement each other.

Who pays who?

The first thing I love about my wife is that she respects me as the head of the family. We work together to make the money, but the moment it comes, she takes me as the head of the family and requests for whatever she likes.

Are you comfortable that Juliet knows what you earn?

I can’t say yes or no, but what I can say is that the most important thing is to meet all her needs as her husband.

How did you close the chapter of the lady before Juliet?

We were both not committed to the relationship and therefore it was in our interest to part ways. We remained friends and I still respect her as the mother of my daughters; Twiggy and Nicole.

At 34, you already have five children?

Unlike most of my age-mates, I think I am answering God’s call of procreation. Children are a blessing from God. I have no problem with the number of my children.

You have resources and no wedding yet?

In fact that has been the biggest debate. I am more comfortable with the customary marriage which I did a couple of years ago. But she wants a church marriage. According to the law, the difference between customary and church marriage is that the former is potentially polygamous while the latter is monogamous.

Right from the time of our dating, I gave her my word that I don’t intend to marry another wife because I am comfortable with her.

However, I told her that I don’t want to tie my hand on someone because you never know what the future may bring.

Isn’t that a contradiction? The whole thing is that I don’t want to tie my hands with marital vows in the church. Somehow, I feel I am not comfortable with the solemn vows.

I would like a church wedding, says Juliet

How and when did you fall for Hon. Odonga Otto?

When we met in 2003, I had no idea that he was a Member of Parliament. He was just an ordinary person who presented his love ‘manifesto’ to me; luckily, he had all the credentials I was looking for in a Man

When did you know that he was a Member of Parliament?

 I got know about it through friends. One friend who knew him at Makerere   told me how he one time   a rotten egg at the President when he visited the university.

Why did you fall for him?

He has a strong character. During our courtship, I played the usual game of hard-to-get, but he pressed on until I gave in. Secondly, I found him to be a man who speaks his mind, no matter the situation.

What challenges do wives of politicians face?

From the onset, I knew the challenges that awaited me. It required me to develop a tough skin to withstand the challenges that trail your husband’s political office. For instance, if my husband is portrayed in a bad light in the media, I will feel the pressure.

How can you describe him?

He is a nice guy, despite being tough. At the time of our courtship, I had no idea who he truly was. Thank God, he has surpassed my expectations. He is a hardworking and loving father. He is always on his toes to provide for his family.

Why did you drop modeling to practice law?

I think the whole love affair with modeling ended when I enrolled for a law course. I was told lawyers were not supposed to be models, so I had to part with it.

Some people never give up on their passion

God willing, in future, I will venture into fashion.

It is every woman’s dream to walk down the aisle, but you haven’t…

We did a customary marriage, but I would like to wed in church someday, although it’s a big issue now.

Are you comfortable with customary marriage?

No, I am not because it allows the husband to marry more than one wife. But still there is no guarantee that if someone is wed in the church, he will not start another relationship.

By the time you moved into his life, he had had children with another woman. Are you comfortable with that?  

It all goes back to my ‘I don’t care attitude’. But most importantly, he didn’t keep the affair secret from me. He assured me that he had no intention of living with her. However, I was surprised when he got another baby with her.

Do you communicate with the mother of your step children?

She sometimes brings her children to our home for a holiday. We talk quite often but only on matters relating our children.

How is your day like?

I wake up early, drop my children at school, and then head to the chambers.  Late in the evening, I pick my children from school before I retire home.  

How do you unwind after a hectic day?

My life revolves around being with my children. Most of the time, I am at home watching cartoons with them. It is relaxing in a way.

How do you handle financial issues with your husband?

As legal partners, we agreed on how best to handle our finances and because he is the head of the family, he finances most of the things at home. I would like to say that he takes the lion’s share in meeting all the financial needs of our family. But finances are not an issue in our relationship