The Uganda Police Force has confirmed that human rights activist and lawyer Praise Aloikin Opoloje is in custody, saying she is being investigated over alleged misuse of her social media platforms to attack other people.
Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke said Opoloje would be charged under laws governing the use of social media platforms, although he did not disclose the police station where she was being held.
“We have laws in place against misusing social media platforms to attack other people. And when you’re arrested, be ready to go and defend yourself,” Rusoke said.
Agora Discourse, a civic organisation with which Opoloje is associated, said she is being held at Central Police Station (CPS) in Kampala.
According to Agora, Opoloje is facing a charge of broadcasting without a licence, contrary to Section 28(1) and (2) of the Uganda Communications Act.
Her detention came hours after she recorded and widely shared a video in which she sharply criticised Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces.
The circumstances surrounding her detention have since raised questions among her colleagues and friends, particularly after she was initially summoned to Namungoona Police Station over a complaint involving a carpet. Raus Ninsima, a friend who had visited Opoloje at her home in Namungoona earlier that day and later followed up on her detention, said the sequence of events appeared unusual.
“The operation appeared planned, judging by how events unfolded over a situation that seemed very clear but was frustratingly dragged on, until she was invited to the police station where operatives were already stationed inside waiting for her,” Ninsima said. According to Ninsima, Opoloje was taken away from Namungoona Police Station on Saturday evening by people she believed were security operatives.
Toko, a senior member of Agora Discourse, said the group later established that Opoloje had not been taken to Entebbe Police Station, where they had initially been told she would be held, but had instead been taken to CPS in Kampala. Toko said he later spoke to Opoloje at CPS and that she told him she was driven towards Entebbe after being taken from Namungoona.
According to Toko, Opoloje said her captors told her she would be punished for allegedly “abusing their president”, referring to Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba rather than President Yoweri Museveni. Toko further alleged that Opoloje told him she was beaten inside the vehicle during the journey and threatened with further violence.
“She says they beat her in the drone, but kept saying the real beating would happen in the basement. One of them told her they could kill her, put her in a body bag and dump it away and no one could do anything about it,” Toko said, recounting his conversation with her. Toko said the vehicle had travelled some distance towards Entebbe when one of the security operatives reportedly received a phone call instructing them to return to Kampala.
The vehicle eventually arrived at CPS, according to Toko. He alleged that Opoloje’s details were not formally recorded at the station and that she was instead taken directly to the women’s cell.
“The drone Toyota Hiace van pulled up at Kampala Police Station. In total disregard of police procedures, her details were not taken down, but the police simply checked her into their cell for women. The officers who locked her up threatened to kill her if she didn’t keep quiet,” Toko said.
The allegations of assault and threats have not been independently verified. Police, however, have now acknowledged that Opoloje is in their custody and say she will face charges over the alleged misuse of social media. Rusoke said authorities expect people who use social media to understand that they are subject to the law. “We have other so-called celebrities who drive recklessly in traffic. We expect Traffic Police also to arrest them. We have also other bikers who captured themselves riding recklessly; we’re hunting them,” he said.
Agora Discourse says it expects Opoloje to be produced in court, although Toko expressed concern that her detention could be the beginning of a prolonged legal process.
The latest development follows earlier reports that Opoloje had been taken from Namungoona Police Station by armed personnel after she was summoned over the carpet complaint. At the time, police and defence authorities had not publicly confirmed her location or legal status.