'Why do you call me minister of miniskirts?'

Jul 04, 2014

The state minister for ethics and integrity, has expressed his concern over the nicknames he is being identified with.

By Pascal Kwesiga & Grace Amme

KAMPALA - Rev. Father Simon Lokodo, the state minister for ethics and integrity, has expressed his concern over the nicknames he is being identified with locally and internationally for his spirited fight for moral uprightness in the country.

“Why do you call me a ‘minister of miniskirts’?” he asked delegates during the launch of a new AIDS program.

 “They now call me a terrible murderer in the West and a minister of miniskirts in Kampala,” he said, adding: “Why do you call me a minister for miniskirts? [Is it] because I talked about your miniskirts and morals?”

Early this year, President Yoweri Museveni signed a law which criminalizes indecency and promotion of pornography.

This law forbids women from wearing clothes like miniskirts and cleavage-revealing blouses ('tops') that excite sexual cravings in public, unless for educational and medical purposes or during sports or cultural events.

In making his recent remarks, minister Lokodo was launching a sh3.1b HIV/AIDs project funded by the Danish International Development agency (DANIDA) at Imperial Royale hotel in Kampala.

“I want to introduce myself today as Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo, the state minister of ethics and integrity whose mandate is to empower Ugandans to uphold values and morals and coordinate government efforts in the fight against corruption,” he declared.

“I hope you have heard this.”

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Minister Lokodo (left) shakes while Mayor of Rubaga Joyce  Sebugwawo at Imperial Royale on Thursday. Right is Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa Director John Mugisa. PHOTO/Kennedy Oryema

The 18-month project will be implemented in the five divisions of Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) and Entebbe municipality by the alliance of mayors’ initiative for community action on HIV/AIDS at local level (AMICAALL).

The AMICAALL country director, Dr. John Mugisa, said the project dubbed ADMARPS (AMICAALI-DANIDA most at risk populations) would target sex workers, long distance truck drivers, fisher folks, security guards, boda-boda cyclists, market venders and other high risk groups.

The project will be executed by mayors and other urban leaders.

The Uganda AIDS indicator survey (2012) showed that HIV prevalence rate in urban areas stands as 8.3% compared to 7.0% in rural areas.


Also related to this story

Uganda bans miniskirts, pornography

'Anti-Pornography Bill not about miniskirts'

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