Human rights activist and law student Praise Aloikin Opoloje has been remanded to Luzira Women’s Prison until October 14, 2026, after appearing before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court in a case that has reignited debate over her repeated arrests and confrontations with authorities.
Opoloje, popularly known as Aloikin, was produced in court today after days of uncertainty surrounding her whereabouts following her arrest at Namungoona Police Station.
Her supporters had initially reported that she had been abducted by armed men after being summoned to the police station, prompting condemnation from lawyers, human rights defenders and civil society organisations.
Police, however, rejected the abduction claims, saying Opoloje had been lawfully arrested and was in custody over alleged misuse of her digital accounts.
Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke said the activist had “knowingly misused” her digital platform and would be required to answer to the allegations before court.
Police did not initially provide details of the specific social-media content at the centre of the investigation.
By Monday, however, Opoloje had been brought before Buganda Road Court, where her bail application was adjourned to October 14. She was subsequently remanded to Luzira Women’s Prison.
Reports circulating among her supporters said the current case involves the use of a SIM card registered in her mother’s name. That allegation had not been clearly set out in the police statements publicly available at the time of publication, which instead referred broadly to alleged misuse of digital accounts.
From ‘abducted’ to court
Opoloje’s latest arrest followed a weekend of confusion over her whereabouts.
According to accounts from her friends and fellow activists, she had gone to Namungoona Police Station after being summoned over a dispute involving a carpet. She reportedly expected to resolve the complaint but was instead detained and later taken away by armed security personnel whose identities and destination were not immediately disclosed.
Her friend Raus Ninsima told The Investigator that the carpet complaint appeared to have been used to get Opoloje to the police station before the situation changed dramatically.
The Uganda Law Society subsequently demanded that authorities account for her whereabouts and ensure that she had access to legal representation and due process.
The African Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders also expressed concern, describing Opoloje as a young woman human rights defender who had spoken publicly against repression and the torture of activists.
The organisation called for her immediate release and said women human rights defenders should be able to speak, organise and dissent without fear of disappearance or reprisal.
Police later came out publicly to say Opoloje had not been abducted. Rusoke said she was in police custody and would be taken before court at an appropriate time. He said the case involved the alleged misuse of her digital accounts, although he did not initially specify the particular posts or statements that allegedly constituted an offence.
The 2024 Parliament protest
The latest case is not Opoloje’s first encounter with the criminal justice system.
She became widely known nationally in 2024 when she joined fellow activists Norah Kobusingye and Kemitoma Kyenzibo in a dramatic anti-corruption protest near Parliament.
On September 2, 2024, the three activists were arrested after staging a nude protest calling for action against corruption and demanding the resignation of then-Speaker of Parliament Anita Among.
They were subsequently charged with common nuisance under Section 148(1) of the Penal Code Act and remanded to Luzira Women’s Government Prison.
The trio spent 10 days on remand before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayiizi granted them non-cash bail of Sh1m each. The case later ran into repeated delays.
According to civil liberties organisation Chapter Four Uganda, the prosecution repeatedly failed to produce witnesses. After numerous adjournments, the defence applied for dismissal for want of prosecution.
The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court eventually dismissed the case in June 2025 under the Magistrates Courts Act after the prosecution failed to proceed with the matter.
That episode established Opoloje as one of the more visible young activists in Uganda’s anti-corruption movement.
Arrested during anti-corruption protests
Her activism had already brought her to the attention of security agencies before the Parliament protest.
During the July 2024 anti-corruption demonstrations, police arrested scores of young people who attempted to march towards Parliament.
Opoloje was among the activists detained during that period as the authorities moved to stop demonstrations over alleged corruption and excessive spending by Parliament.
A subsequent interview with Opoloje published by Daily Monitor described her experience in detention, including allegations of mistreatment while she was in custody.
The July protests became one of the defining moments of Uganda’s youth-led anti-corruption activism in 2024, with more than 100 young people reportedly arrested during demonstrations in Kampala and other areas.
Opoloje subsequently remained active in civic campaigns, speaking publicly about corruption, accountability, human rights and the treatment of young Ugandans.
A young activist’s rise
Opoloje, a law student and civic activist, has increasingly used social media to discuss governance, human rights and political developments.
Her writings have appeared on civic platforms, including Agora Investigates, where she has written about surveillance, information control and Uganda’s political environment.
In a May 2026 article, she examined what she described as the use of surveillance and fear in controlling information and political expression.
She was also recognised internationally for her activism. Reports on her latest arrest identify her as a recipient of the European Union Human Rights Defenders Award in 2025.
Her activism has increasingly involved digital platforms, a development that is particularly significant in the latest case because police have specifically linked her arrest to alleged misuse of digital accounts.
Muhoozi video
The latest controversy has also coincided with Opoloje’s criticism of the Patriotic League of Uganda and its chairman, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
According to police and media reports, she recently posted a video in which she criticised the PLU and its leader.
Some of her supporters have linked that video to her arrest, although police have not publicly stated that it is the specific material forming the basis of the charge.
Police have instead maintained that the case concerns alleged misuse of digital platforms and that she will have an opportunity to defend herself in court.
That distinction is important because no court has yet determined that Opoloje committed an offence through her social-media activity.
A growing debate over digital expression
Her arrest has consequently reopened a wider debate about the limits of online expression in Uganda.
Police have warned that social-media users are not exempt from the law and can be held accountable for content that violates existing legislation.
Human rights activists and lawyers, on the other hand, have raised concerns about the use of criminal investigations against activists who criticise government officials and institutions.
The Uganda Law Society has previously demanded due process in Opoloje’s case, while civil society groups have argued that detention should not be used to punish lawful criticism.
For Opoloje, the latest remand adds another chapter to a short but increasingly prominent history of clashes with authorities.
She has previously been arrested during anti-corruption demonstrations, remanded in connection with a protest case that was eventually dismissed, and now faces a fresh case arising from alleged misuse of digital platforms.
As she remains in Luzira until October 14, the next court appearance is expected to shed more light on the precise allegations against her, including the reported use of a SIM card registered in her mother’s name.
Until then, Opoloje remains an accused person and is presumed innocent unless proved guilty by a competent court.
Author Profile
- Charles Gazza Kodili is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. He’s currently the Chief Editor at the Investigator.
Charles can also be reached via; Tel: +256 774 108978
Email: [email protected]
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