Uganda: Anti-corruption activist Praise Aloikin jailed after her attacks on the president's son

At 26, anti-corruption activist Praise Aloikin is being detained by Ugandan authorities on a disputed administrative charge. His family and NGOs believe his arrest is simply retaliation for his viral videos targeting General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

With her outspoken criticism, caustic tone, and viral TikTok videos, anti-corruption activist Praise Aloikin has established herself as one of the voices of Ugandan youth who refuse to be silenced. Honored last year by the European Union for her activism, the 26-year-old is now behind bars. Officially, she is accused of using a SIM card registered in her mother's name for alleged illegal purposes.

The events began on Saturday, September 26, 2026, during what appeared to be an ordinary summons to the police station, related to a trivial dispute over a rug.

According to Amnesty International, Praise Aloikin was then allegedly taken away by armed men in an unmarked vehicle, leaving her family without news for two days. While Ugandan police deny any abduction, authorities considered several charges, ranging from incitement to violence to the distribution of unlicensed videos, before settling on the SIM card motive.

Her supporters see this as a clear maneuver to silence a troublesome opponent. Praise Aloikin rose to prominence by denouncing state corruption and directly targeting General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the army chief and son of President Yoweri Museveni. On camera, she accused the general of condoning political kidnappings and ridiculed him, calling him "cabbage."

According to information reported by Radio France Internationale (RFI), the reality of this arrest was confirmed at the police station itself: the police officers reportedly informed the activist that she was going to be punished for having insulted the head of the armed forces and called him a "cabbage", completely abandoning the initial case of the rug.

The detention of Praise Aloikin has sparked a wave of outrage that extends beyond his personal case. On social media, many young Ugandans have adopted the term "cabbage" as a sign of solidarity, transforming the insult into a symbol of protest against the government's impunity.

Faced with what the organization describes as repeated enforced disappearances over several years, Amnesty International demands the immediate release of the activist as well as an independent investigation.