Simon Lokodo
Simon Lokodo | |
---|---|
Born | Uganda |
28 October 1957
Residence | Kampala, Uganda |
Nationality | Ugandan |
Ethnicity | Karimajong |
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 |
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]
Contents
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
<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>
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.[citation needed] He reportedly enjoys reading, participating in sports, debating, and traveling.[citation needed] He belongs to the National Resistance Movement political party.[citation needed] He is reported to speak and write fluent Karamojong,[citation needed] English, Italian, French, German, and Spanish.[15]
See also
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Our politicians: Simon Lokodo at the Wayback Machine (archived March 13, 2012)
External links
- Pages using infobox person with unknown parameters
- Infobox person using ethnicity
- Infobox person using religion
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- Articles with unsourced statements from June 2015
- 1957 births
- Living people
- People from Kaabong District
- Makerere University alumni
- Members of the Parliament of Uganda
- Government ministers of Uganda
- National Resistance Movement politicians
- Ugandan Roman Catholics
- People from Northern Region, Uganda