DEATH

Former Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity Fr. Simon Lokodo has died at the age of 64 in the Swiss capital Geneva.

He was also a member of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC).

The commission tweeted Saturday announcing Lokodo's death:

"It is with great shock and pain that we‘ve learnt of the passing of our Honorable Member of the Commission, Fr. Simon Lokodo. He passed on this morning in Geneva Switzerland Flag of Switzerland. The Commission will share details in due course."

UHRC commissioner Crispin Kaheru said they are in shock from the news of Lokodo's passing.

"It is very terrible. They traveled for the universal periodic review process of Uganda in Geneva. When he got there, he got some complications and we thought it was mild and maybe it was a change of weather," said Kaheru.

"We then got information on Saturday at around 11:00 am that he was dead."

Lokodo served as a State minister and an MP in his political career

Lokodo was born on October 28, 1957 in Kaabong district, later becoming a parish priest, before joining politics.

He joined politics at the age of 49 through a special election held on June 29, 2006 following the death of the area MP of Dodoth County. Lokodo was then excommunicated by the Catholic church from the church.

Lokodo was appointed  Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity in the Office of the President  in 2011. 

Previously, he was the Minister of State for Industry from 2009 to 2011. 

He also represented Dodoth County (Kaabong district) in Parliament from 2006, but later lost the seat after failing to win the NRM party flag. He was defeated in the primaries by Ben Koryang. Koryang.

Lokodo was then appointed to the UHRC as a member by President Yoweri Museveni.