Omuwala Aloikin Opoloje Abadde Avvoola Gen. Muhoozi Mubutambi Yabuziddwawo, Talabikako

‎Serious concerns have been raised regarding the safety and whereabouts of 25-year-old human rights activist Praise Aloikin Opoloje, who was allegedly abducted from Namungoona Police Station on Saturday, September 26, by armed security officers. ‎ ‎Opoloje, a prominent civic activist and recipient of the 2025 European Union Human Rights Defenders Award, had been summoned to the police station before being handed over to security personnel. Civic organization Agora Discourse reported that she was taken away by officers identified as Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS), formerly known as the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), in a vehicle bearing registration number UA875AC. ‎ ‎The reported disappearance followed a video Opoloje posted online in which she sharply criticized Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces and son to President Yoweri Museveni. In the recording, she condemned the conduct of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) and offered blunt commentary regarding its leadership. ‎ ‎The incident has drawn swift condemnation from human rights defenders, lawyers, and political leaders. In a joint statement released on Sunday, September 27, a coalition of prominent human rights advocates -including Eron Kiiza, Sarah Kasande, Phillip Karugaba, and Andrew Karamagi-condemned the actions of the police, characterizing the incident as state-facilitated collusion. ‎ ‎"A police station is not a holding pen for handover to armed men who identify neither themselves nor their authority. When the Police lure a citizen only to deliver her into the hands of unidentified operatives, they cease to be law enforcers and become accomplices in an enforced disappearance," the statement read in part. ‎ ‎The legal coalition emphasized that robust commentary directed at public figures remains protected under Article 29 of the Constitution of Uganda, which guarantees freedom of expression. They noted that limitations on online speech under the Computer Misuse Act had previously been struck down by the Constitutional Court, reinforcing that sharp criticism of public figures does not constitute a criminal offense. ‎ ‎"No lawful process made her disappear. No lawful process can hold her either. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Praise Aloikin Opoloje," the advocates added, urging Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba to provide a public accounting of her location and calling on the Uganda Human Rights Commission to intervene. ‎ ‎Opposition leader and National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, publicly denounced the incident as an act of state criminality and demanded her immediate release. Similar alarms were raised by activists Nahabwe Bruce, Barbie Kyagulanyi, and colleagues across civil society networks, including the World Liberty Congress, under the online banner. ‎ ‎#FreePraiseAloikin #Muhoozi