On November 19, Praise Aloikin Opoloje, a 27-year-old lawyer, is set to appear in a Kampala courtroom to answer a charge of using a SIM card registered in another person's name. Her supporters argue that the case is a pretext to silence her criticism of the government. Opoloje has been a vocal critic of the Ugandan government, particularly the army chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Amnesty International has called for her release, citing concerns about her detention and the charges against her.
Opoloje's troubles began on November 3, when she posted a video accusing General Muhoozi of intimidating Ugandans through arrests and torture. Within hours, she was arrested and taken into custody. Her friends and Amnesty International report that she was held for two days without word, and then spent more than two weeks in Luzira Prison. The charges against her are related to her use of a SIM card registered in her mother's name.
Opoloje's activism has made her a prominent figure in Uganda's young people movement. In July 2024, she was among the young Ugandans who organized an anti-corruption march to Parliament, inspired by the Gen Z protests in neighboring Kenya. Human Rights Watch reported that she was among those arrested and remanded to prison. In September 2024, she and two other young women staged a half-naked protest near Parliament, highlighting issues such as the Kiteezi rubbish landslide that killed 35 people.
Despite facing backlash, Opoloje has continued to speak out against the government. She founded WeThePeople, a movement that teaches young Ugandans their civic rights and the discipline of non-violent resistance. In 2025, she won the European Union's Human Rights Defenders' Award in Uganda and was a finalist for the Martin Ennals Award. Her activism has earned her recognition, but also made her a target for government reprisal.
The pressure on Opoloje has not stopped with her detention. On November 1, her friend and colleague Louis Ninsiima, a law student, was reportedly seized from his mother's workplace in Kikuubo. Activists and lawyers describe it as an enforced disappearance linked to his friendship with Opoloje. The incident has raised concerns about the government's tactics to silence critics and intimidate their supporters.
President Yoweri Museveni, 82, has begun a seventh term, and the question of what comes after him hangs over Uganda. The state has its answer ready: the arrest and prosecution of critics like Opoloje. Her case has sparked concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and the government's response to dissent. As a prominent voice among Uganda's young people, Opoloje's detention and charges have become a rallying cry for those seeking change.
The case against Opoloje has sparked widespread attention and condemnation. Amnesty International has demanded her release, citing concerns about her detention and the charges against her. The African Mirror shares that skepticism, questioning the motivations behind the charges. As Opoloje faces trial, her supporters and human rights groups will be watching closely, concerned about the implications for free speech and activism in Uganda.
Key points
- The Ugandan government is accused of using a SIM card charge as a pretext to silence Praise Aloikin Opoloje's criticism of the government.
- Opoloje's detention and charges have sparked concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and the government's response to dissent in Uganda.
- The case against Opoloje has become a rallying cry for those seeking change in Uganda, particularly among the country's young people.
