PROFILE: Interesting Facts about the Late ex-Minister Fr Simon Lokodo

Former ethics and integrity minister Fr Simon Lokodo has passed on this January 29 morning. (Read story here).

Here is a quick look at his profile, life and times, as well as legacy:

LOKODO: A QUICK PROFILE

Date of birth: October 28, 1957

Place of birth: Present day Kaabong District in Karamoja sub-region

Career: Priest & Politician

Education

Degrees

• Bachelor of Arts in Theology – Pontifical Urbaniana University
• Master of Arts in Theology – Pontifical Urbaniana University

Diplomas

• Diploma in Rural Sociology
• Diploma in Social Communication
• Diploma in Philosophy & Social Science
• Diploma in Theology

Certificates

• Certificate in German Language (from Austria)
• Certificate in French Language (from Paris, France)

Career

Until 2006: Parish priest for Kaabong Parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kotido.

Pope Benedict XVI defrocked him and ex-communicated him from the Catholic Church for joining politics

2006: Elected Dodoth County MP

2009: Appointed junior minister for industry

2011: Replaced Nsaba Buturo as Ethics and Integrity Minister

2021: Dropped from cabinet, appointed UHRC Commissioner

January 29, 2022: Died in Geneva, Switzerland

Legacy

• Will be remembered for his defiance against the Catholic Church by insisting on joining politics
• Hated among homosexuality and LGBTI rights communities and activists for pushing legislation and actions against them
• Proposed sanctions against mini-skirts
• Insisted on punishing celebrities and other Ugandans whose private photos leaked online
• Insisted on policing the Nyege Nyege festival to weed ‘immorality’ out of activities at the arts and cultural celebration