Odoi: Meet Africa’s fastest legislator

Beyond his parliamentary duties, where he chairs the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Youth Affairs and represents Uganda in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Odoi is a lawyer and entrepreneur.

He is the director of Bencity Holdings, a company specialising in waste management, pest control and cleaning services. Odoi's connection to this work is deeply personal.

To fund his education, he worked numerous jobs, including collecting garbage in the suburbs of Muyenga, Bukasa, Namuwongo, and Kisugu. He also worked as a site porter during the construction of Kampala International University, where he eventually earned his law degree.

An enthusiastic athlete, Odoi is a sprinter with the Parliamentary sports team, competing in the 100m, 400m and 4x100m races. He is recognised as the fastest Member of Parliament in Africa. 

His athletic prowess is evident in his recent performances: at the 14th edition of the EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games in Mombasa, Kenya (2024), Odoi clocked a remarkable 10.57 seconds in the 100m.  In 2023, he won the gold medal in the 100m and silver in the 400m in the games held in Rwanda. 

"I am currently training with the aim of lowering that time," he said.

Omanyala's inspiration

Following his impressive performance at the EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games in Mombasa, where he secured victories in the 200m, 400m, and relay races, Odoi's success garnered media attention.

His achievements were broadcast on Kenyan television networks KTN and NTV, catching the eye of Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa's ninth-fastest man of all time.

"I didn't know him physically, but I had read about him as a superstar, as a Commonwealth gold medallist, and as the fastest man in Africa," Odoi recalled. "He told me my physique was that of an accomplished runner and encouraged me to give it a try. I was impressed by his comments, and I remained in Kenya to begin training with Omanyala."

Odoi's training with Omanyala continued until January 25, 2025. This experience provided invaluable insights into the world of professional sprinting. 

"It was during this time that I came to understand the dynamics of being a sprinter in terms of nutrition and resting. I had only been doing personal training without a clue about how professionals train," he acknowledges.

From street survival

Before his recent success, Odoi maintained his fitness through regular gym workouts and morning runs.

His involvement in organised sports began just two months after his swearing-in as a Member of Parliament in 2021, when he joined the Parliamentary Sports team to participate in the EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games.

Initially, Odoi took part in various disciplines, including football, basketball and athletics. Under the guidance of parliamentary coaches Dorcus Inzikuru, Patience Ahebwa and Bob Ssebugwawo, he chose athletics. 

From this point Odoi dedicated himself to extra practice. 

"I realised the time we had for group training at Lugogo was insufficient. So I would go after plenary to train once again, avoiding the evening traffic jam. Sometimes I would stay at Parliament to do gym," he said.

Odoi's upbringing in the Namuwongo slums presented limited opportunities for sports participation. He engaged in boxing and martial arts at Nsambya Sharing Hall, primarily for self-defense in the harsh environment. He remains a member of the East Coast Boxing Club in Naguru. 

"Growing up in the ghetto, you need to be strong because nigga will meet you and just take anything from you," he recounted.

Now, Odoi's focus has shifted. "Who knows now? I wanna be a champion. I would be happy to go and represent my country at the African level and in international meets. It would be an amazing thing if a Member of Parliament represented the country in elite competitions. I know it’s about talent, it’s about discipline and training. I already have the talent. At my age as a leader, I am disciplined and I’m committed to training.”

Odoi sees his athletic pursuits as a means of inspiring younger Ugandans. 

"If I can run as a Member of Parliament, how about someone without much commitment? As an MP, it also helps me to understand that when we’re making budgets, we should be aware of how to support the athletes," he said.

Age no barrier

At 32, Odoi may be considered a latecomer to professional sprinting. While examples like Kim Collins, the oldest sprinter in Olympic history who competed from 1996 to 2016 and broke the 10-second barrier at age 40 with a personal best of 9.93 seconds, exist, Odoi faces a significant challenge

"I don’t believe in age as an exception for one not to achieve whatever they want. I believe that it’s your ability, focus, and determination that will push you. I believe that it’s someone’s personal weakness that derails them from achieving what they want in life,” he said.

He maintains the confidence instilled in him by his mentor, Ferdinand Omanyala.

"If I’m running below 11 seconds without a professional coach, I believe that at my age I can surprise the whole universe," he added.

The Olympic and World Athletics Championships qualifying time for the men's 100m is 10.00 seconds.  Odoi has his sights set on the next World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (September 13-21, 2025), though the short timeframe presents a considerable hurdle.

A more realistic target may be the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (July 23-August 2, 2026), where the 100m qualifying time is a slightly more attainable 10.40 seconds.

“Last month I learned of the World Championships in Tokyo. My dream and prayer are now focused on trying to work out and see if I can get the required time. Tokyo is quite close, but whatever comes along the way and I’m in the qualification time, I will enter that race and then see what God can do,” Odoi said.

Balancing act

Balancing the demands of representing 44 districts in Eastern Uganda with his athletic aspirations requires dedication.

His day typically begins at 5:00am with prayers, followed by a workout in his home gym, utilising weights and dumbbells. He incorporates cardio through 30-minute runs or hour-long stationary bike sessions, particularly on leg days, before heading to work.

Mondays and Tuesdays see Odoi fitting in gym sessions at Parliament during lunch breaks. His car is always equipped with towels and a change of clothes, allowing him to train before plenary sessions. 

When time constraints prevent this, he heads to the gym immediately after the plenary sitting. He also occasionally trains at the refurbished Namboole Stadium.

Even in his constituency in Tororo, Odoi maintains his routine, running in the mornings and tackling the challenging climb of Tororo Rock. 

"When I’m outside Uganda, before I check in at any hotel, I first have to ensure they have a gym or health fitness facility," he said. "Even in my village, when I spend the night there, I wake up and go to my former primary school and run around the field. Running is now part of my life. Wherever I go, the first thing in the car is the gym bag with running shoes, skipping ropes, and wristbands." 

Advice

Odoi has issued a call to parents, emphasising the growing importance of encouraging their children's participation in sports. He highlighted the burgeoning multi-billion dollar sports industry and its diverse career paths, stressing that parental motivation is crucial for nurturing young talent.

"If you can't motivate your own child," Odoi stated, "no stranger or neighbour will motivate them. Not even the government will motivate them."

Odoi explained that young athletes often face many distractions.

"When someone wins in their school or district, they look at themselves as a star. Many young people want to celebrate things prematurely," he said. 

He further noted the impact of early marriage on young female athletes and the misuse of winnings by young male athletes. 

"You find our would-be successful athletes, if they are girls, before you know, they’re married. If it’s a boy, he wins one race and they use the money to marry wives. Success is not one piece of event. It’s a continuous process,” he said.

Name: Bernard Odoi

Date of birth: August 28, 1991

Parents: James Onen and Justine Nyadoi

Place: Abweli Village, Mulanda in Tororo District

Schools: Tororo progressive, Lugazi Homeland and Kampala International University.

Profession: Lawyer