Former Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity in the Office of the President of Uganda, Father Simon Lokodo died while on official duty in Switzerland, according to the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC).
On Saturday morning, UHRC where Lokodo has been a member, announced his passing in a brief message posted on twitter.
“It’s with great shock and pain that we‘ve learnt of the passing of our Honourable Member of the Commission, Fr. Simon Lokodo. He passed on this morning in Geneva Switzerland. The Commission will share details in due course.May the Almighty Rest His Soul in Eternal Peace,” announced the Commission.
Now, an additional statement by the Commission reveals l that the former Minister died on Friday
January 28 just before midnight, at University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland.
“He was on official duty – leading a delegation from the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) at the 40th session of the Universal Periodic Review,” says UHRC.
The deceased joined the Uganda Human Rights Commission on September 29, 2021 when he took the oath of office and had at the time of his demise served as Commissioner for close to four months.
The Commission will miss Hon. Fr. Simon Lokodo’s vast experience and exposure gained from working with both the legislative and the executive arms of Government as well as
his extensive social networks and lobbying skills.
“We are working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Uganda to have his body repatriated,” adds the Commission.
Born in Kaabong District on 28 October 1957, Simon Lokodo held a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Theology from the Pontifical Urbaniana University and his Master of Arts in Theology was also obtained from the same university of Rome.
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, a position he held until January 2021 when he lost it during the general elections.
In February 2009, he was appointed to the cabinet as the Minister of State for Industry and Technology. In the cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, he was relocated to the Ethics and Integrity portfolio, replacing Nsaba Buturo.
In the cabinet reshuffle of 1 March 2015, he retained his cabinet post.
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.