Foreign Affairs Ministry working with rights commission to repatriate Lokodo’s body

Kampala -The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to have the body of it’s former commissioner late Fr. Simon Lokodo repatriated.

According to a statement released by the commission on Saturday evening, Fr. Lokodo died on Friday Jan 28, 2022 just before midnight at a university hospital of Geneva, Switzerland. He was on official duty; leading a delegation from UHRC at the 40th session of the universal Periodic Review.

Fr. Lokodo joined UHRC on September 29, 2021 and at the time of his demise served as commissioner for close to four months.

“We are working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and government of Uganda to have his body repartriated.” The statement from the rights body said

It added “We extend our deep appreciation to Ambassador Eunice Kigenyi, Head of Uganda mission in Geneva and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the assistantance and care rendered to Hon. Fr. Simon Lokodo over the past days.” The statement from the rights body said

The commission says Hon Lokodo’s will be missed for his vast experience and exposure gained from working with both the legislative and executive arms of government as well as his extensive social networks and lobbying skills.

Lokodo, a former priest who was known to promote conservative social values, served as Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity between 2011 and June 2021 when he was dropped from cabinet.

Prior to the Ethics portfolio, the then Dodoth County MP (Kaabong District) also served as Minister of State for Industry from 2009 to 2011.

At the age of 49, Lokodo first entered politics to contest in a by-election in June 2006, following the death of the Dodoth County incumbent MP. He was consequently ex-communicated from the Catholic Church by Pope Benedict XVI when he entered politics. He won the by-election.

In February 2009, he was appointed to the cabinet as the Minister of State for Industry and Technology.

In the cabinet reshuffle of May 27, 2011, he was reassigned to the Ethics and Integrity portfolio, replacing Nsaba Buturo. In the cabinet reshuffle of March 2015, he retained his cabinet post.

Fr. Lokodo became controversially popular for challenging homosexuality in all forms and condemning what he described as indecent dressing. 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.” Amnesty International condemned the raid.

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