Simon Lokodo

Simon Lokodo
Born (1957-10-28) 28 October 1957
Uganda
Residence Kampala, Uganda
Nationality Ugandan
Citizenship Uganda
Education Pontifical Urbaniana University
(Bachelor of Arts in Theology)
(Masters of Arts in Bibilical Theology)
Occupation Former Catholic Priest & Politician
Years active 2006 — Present
Known for Politics
Title State Minister of Ethics & Integrity
Religion Excommunicated Roman Catholic

Simon Lokodo is a Ugandan politician. He is the State Minister of Ethics & Integrity in the Office of the President, in the Cabinet of Uganda. He was appointed to that position on 27 May 2011. He replaced Nsaba Buturo.[1] Before that, he served as the State Minister for Industry from February 2009 until May 2011.[2] In the cabinet reshuffle of 1 March 2015,[3] he retained his cabinet post. He is also the elected member of parliament representing Dodoth County, Kaabong District. He was first elected to that position on 29 June 2006.[4]

Background and education

He was born in Kaabong District on 28 October 1957. Simon Lokodo holds 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 holds 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 holds a Certificate in German Language obtained from an institution in Austria and a Certificate in French Language, obtained from an institution in Paris, France.[5]

Political career

At the age of 49, Lokodo first entered politics in June 2006 to contest in a special election where the incumbent member of parliament had died of natural causes.[6] Before that, he was the parish priest for Kaabong Parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kotido.[5] He was ex-communicated from the Catholic Church by Pope Benedict XVI when he joined politics.[7][8] He won the special election and began representing Dodoth County, Kaabong District, in the parliament. In February 2009, he was appointed to the cabinet as the Minister of State for Industry & Technology. [2] In the cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, he was relocated to the Ethics & Integrity portfolio.

He is 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]

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.[13][14]

Personal life

Lokodo is single. He reportedly enjoys reading, participating in sports, debating, and traveling. He belongs to the National Resistance Movement political party. He is reported to speak and write fluent Karamojong, English, Italian, French, German, and Spanish.[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Uganda State House, . (27 May 2011). "Comprehensive List of New Cabinet Appointments & Dropped Ministers". Facebook.com. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 Newvision Archive, . (18 February 2009). "Full Cabinet List As At 18 February 2009". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Uganda State House, . (1 March 2015). "Full Cabinet List As At 1 March 2015" (PDF). Daily Monitor (Kampala). Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  4. ↑ Nakaggwa, Flavia (30 June 2006). "In Brief: Simon Lokodo Is MP". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  5. 1 2 POU, . (2011). "Profile of Father Simon Lokodo, Member of Parliament for Dodoth County West, Kaabong District". Parliament of Uganda (POU). Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  6. ↑ Newvision Archive, . (19 June 2006). "In Brief: Mbale - Two Nominated In Kaabong By-Election". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ (CWB), . (31 August 2011). "Pope Fires Father Lokodo From Priesthood". Clerical Whispers BlogSpot (CWB). Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  9. ↑ BBC Staff, . "Uganda Gay Workshop Raided by Ethics Minister Lokodo". BBC News. 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. ↑ Heuler, Hillary (19 February 2014). "New Law Bans Miniskirts In Uganda". Voice of America. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ Our politicians: Simon Lokodo at the Wayback Machine (archived March 13, 2012)
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