Activists, Lawyers Demand Release of Praise Aloikin Amid Abduction Fears

Prominent lawyers and activists have issued a strong call for the immediate and unconditional release of anti-corruption advocate Praise Aloikin Opoloje. They allege that Aloikin was abducted by unknown armed individuals after being taken to a police station.

According to a statement released on September 27, 2026, Aloikin was reportedly lured to a police facility before being apprehended by unidentified armed men. The group expressed grave alarm over this incident, highlighting that no offense has been disclosed against Aloikin.

Her family, legal representatives, and the public have been left without information regarding her whereabouts or the reasons for her detention. The lawyers described the alleged transfer from police custody to unauthorized individuals as a potential enforced disappearance, criticizing the police for failing to account for someone who entered their premises.

Demands have been made for Aloikin to be held in a legally authorized facility, if in state custody, and granted access to her family, lawyer, and medical personnel. Furthermore, they insist she must be presented in court within the constitutionally mandated timeframe, emphasizing that continued detention without due process constitutes a rights violation.

The lawyers have linked Aloikin’s alleged abduction to her vocal criticism of corruption and government officials. She was noted for her participation in the 2024 anti-corruption protests and her previous public statements on accountability. Recent criticism directed at the Patriotic League of Uganda and its leader, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in a widely circulated video, is specifically cited.

These legal professionals assert that Aloikin’s criticisms fall under protected freedom of expression and should not lead to criminal punishment. They are urging the Inspector General of Police, Abas Byakagaba, and the Uganda Human Rights Commission Chairperson, Mariam Fauzat Wangadya, to intervene and clarify Aloikin’s status and location.

Several notable lawyers, including Eron Kiiza and Phillip Karugaba, have signed the statement. The police spokesperson, ACP Kituuma Rusoke, had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication, and Nile Post was unable to independently verify the circumstances of Aloikin’s reported arrest or her current whereabouts.

Source: Nile Post