Simon Lokodo


Simon Lokodo[German language|] is a Ugandan politician who has served as Minister of State for Ethics & 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 has also been the elected Member of Parliament representing Dodoth County, Kaabong District since 2006.

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.
Before entering politics, he was the parish priest for Kaabong Parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kotido.

Political career

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. He was ex-communicated from the Catholic Church by Pope Benedict XVI when he entered politics. 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. In the cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, he was relocated to the Ethics & Integrity portfolio, replacing Nsaba Buturo. In the cabinet reshuffle of 1 March 2015, he retained his cabinet post.
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.
In 2014, Stephen Fry interviewed Lokodo in , where he was quoted as saying "...men raping girls. Which is natural." Fry later revealed in 2016 that he had tried to commit suicide in the hours after the interview.
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.

Personal life

He is reported to speak and write fluent English, Italian, French, German, and Spanish.