law 14 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Activist Praise Aloikin granted bail after two weeks on remand
Human rights defender and lawyer Praise Aloikin Opoloje has been granted bail by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court after spending over two weeks in detention. She faces allegations of unlawfully using a SIM card registered in another person's name. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/activist-praise-aloikin-granted-bail-after-more-than-two-weeks-on-remand-5631946
Prominent human rights lawyer and activist Praise Aloikin Opoloje, 27, has been released on bail by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court. The court set a non-cash bail of Shs500,000, finding her sureties to be substantial.
Senior Principal Magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatiko granted the bail on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Opoloje’s three sureties, who are friends, were each given a non-cash bond of Shs1 million.
As a condition of her bail, Opoloje must surrender her passport to the court and is prohibited from traveling outside Uganda without prior court permission. Her release comes after she was remanded for more than two weeks on charges related to the alleged unlawful use of a SIM card. She was arrested in late September and pleaded not guilty to the charges when she first appeared in court.
The prosecution alleges that Opoloje used an MTN mobile number registered to another individual for illegal activities in Kampala during September 2026. Her arrest had sparked considerable concern among fellow activists and human rights defenders, who questioned the circumstances of her detention and subsequent transfer.
Reports indicated that Opoloje was initially summoned to a police station before allegedly being handed over to intelligence officers. Her arrest followed a video she posted online criticizing a prominent political figure and commenting on the leadership of a political organization. This incident drew condemnation from various rights advocates who highlighted concerns about state-facilitated collusion and the protection of free speech.
Opoloje has a history of civic engagement, including participation in demonstrations advocating for fiscal accountability and protesting government negligence. She has previously received recognition for her human rights work, including the European Union Human Rights Defenders Award. The case has been adjourned for mention on November 19.