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Simon Lokodo

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Simon Lokodo
Born(1957-10-28)28 October 1957
Kaabong District, Uganda
Died29 January 2022(2022-01-29) (aged 64)
Geneva, Switzerland
NationalityUgandan
CitizenshipUganda
EducationPontifical Urbaniana University
(Bachelor of Arts in Theology)
(Master's of Arts in Biblical Theology)
Occupation(s)Catholic priest and politician
Years active2006-2022
Known forPolitics
TitleMinister of State for Ethics & Integrity

Simon Lokodo (28 October 1957 – 29 January 2022) was a Ugandan politician who served as Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity in the Office of the President of Uganda since 2011. Previously, he was the Minister of State for Industry from 2009 to 2011. He also served as the elected Member of Parliament representing Dodoth County, Kaabong District since 2006 until he lost his Parliamentary seat in January 2021 after so many of his previous accusing him of supporting the act removal of age limit from the presidential aspirants. He also served as a member of the Uganda Human Rights Commission.

Background and education

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Lokodo was born in Kaabong District on 28 October 1957. Simon Lokodo held the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Theology from the Pontifical Urbaniana University. His Master of Arts in Theology was also obtained from the same university of Rome. He also held the Diploma in Rural Sociology, the Diploma in Social Communication, the Diploma in Philosophy & Social Science and the Certificate in Italian Language. He obtained his Diploma in Theology, from Makerere University, Uganda's oldest university; founded in 1922. Lokodo also held a Certificate in German Language obtained from an institution in Austria and a Certificate in French Language, obtained from an institution in Paris, France.[1]

Political career

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See also: LGBT rights in Uganda and Homophobia

At the age of 49, Lokodo first entered politics to contest a special election on 29 June 2006, following the death of the incumbent member of parliament.[2] He was suspended from his priestly duties by Pope Benedict XVI when he entered politics.[3][4] He won the special election and began representing Dodoth County, Kaabong District, in the parliament.[5] In February 2009, he was appointed to the cabinet as the Minister of State for Industry & Technology.[6] In the cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, he was relocated to the Ethics & Integrity portfolio, replacing Nsaba Buturo.[7] In the cabinet reshuffle of 1 March 2015, he retained his cabinet post.[8]

He was well known for challenging homosexuality in all forms. In 2012, he and the police raided and shut down a gay activist workshop. He was quoted as saying, "I have closed this conference because it's illegal. We do not accept homosexuality in Uganda." He also blamed foreigners, saying they should "go back home". Amnesty International condemned the raid.[9]

In 2014, Stephen Fry interviewed Lokodo in Stephen Fry: Out There, where he was quoted as saying "...men raping girls. Which is natural."[10][11][12] Fry later revealed in 2016 that he had tried to commit suicide in the hours after the interview.[13]

In February 2014, dress code legislation was enacted, aimed primarily at women. Clothes that are considered revealing or sexually provocative were to be outlawed; "If you dress in such a way that you irritate the mind and excite the people then you are badly dressed; if you draw the attention of the other person outside there with a malicious purpose of exciting and stimulating him or her into sex," Lokodo stated.[14][15]

He served as the elected Member of Parliament representing Dodoth County, Kaabong District until he lost his Parliamentary seat in January 2021. At the time of his death on 29 January 2022, he was serving as a member of the Uganda Human Rights Commission.[16]

Personal life and death

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Lokodo was reported to speak and write fluent English, Italian, French, German, and Spanish.[17]

He died in Geneva on 29 January 2022, at the age of 64 from COVID-19.[18][16][19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Profile of Father Simon Lokodo, Member of Parliament for Dodoth County West, Kaabong District". Parliament of Uganda. 2011. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  2. ^ "In Brief: Mbale - Two Nominated In Kaabong By-Election". New Vision (Kampala). 19 June 2006. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  3. ^ Kleinveld, Thomas (21 May 2014). "Uganda's Moral Crusader Simon Lokodo - 'The Whites Are Spreading Pornography and Homosexuality'". Radio Netherlands Worldwide via AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  4. ^ "Pope Fires Father Lokodo From Priesthood". Clerical Whispers BlogSpot. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  5. ^ Nakaggwa, Flavia (30 June 2006). "In Brief: Simon Lokodo Is MP". New Vision (Kampala). Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Full Cabinet List As At 18 February 2009". New Vision (Kampala). 18 February 2009. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Comprehensive List of New Cabinet Appointments & Dropped Ministers". Facebook.com. 27 May 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Full Cabinet List As At 1 March 2015" (PDF). Daily Monitor (Kampala). 1 March 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  9. ^ "Uganda Gay Workshop Raided by Ethics Minister Lokodo". BBC News. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  10. ^ Iaccino, Ludovica (26 February 2014). "Ugandan Reverend Simon Lokodo: 'Child Rape Better Than Homosexuality'". International Business Times. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  11. ^ Macdonald, Neil (27 February 2014). "From Uganda To The U.S. Bible Belt, The Proliferation of Gay Discrimination Laws". CBC News. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  12. ^ "Ugandan Reverend Says Heterosexual Child Rape Preferable To Homosexuality". The Times. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  13. ^ "Stephen Fry says the 'frothing' homophobia of Ugandan politician led him to try to kill himself". Independent.co.uk. 6 February 2016.
  14. ^ Heuler, Hillary (19 February 2014). "New Law Bans Miniskirts In Uganda". Voice of America. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  15. ^ Kimani, Peter (20 February 2014). "Skirting Around The Issue Is M7's Way of Exciting Interest In Regional Politics". The Standard. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  16. ^ a b "Former Ethics Minister Fr Simon Lokodo dies". Watchdog Uganda. 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Our politicians: Simon Lokodo". Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  18. ^ "Fr Lokodo died of Covid-19".
  19. ^ Charles Etukuri (29 January 2022). "Former ethics minister Fr Simon Lokodo dies aged 65". New Vision. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
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