Older Persons Member of Parliament Ofwono Opondo has openly questioned the conduct of security agencies over the alleged abduction and mistreatment of human rights defender Aloikin Praise Opoloje, raising concerns about the direction Uganda is taking under the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). Speaking during Thursday’s parliamentary plenary session, Opondo demanded answers from the government over reports that the young activist was lured to a police station in Kampala’s Rubaga Division before being handed over to unidentified men. His remarks have attracted attention because of his long association with the NRM and his criticism of actions he believes contradict the party’s values.
Opondo called on Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who was chairing the session, to compel the Minister of Internal Affairs to explain whether citizens could now be summoned to police stations only to disappear into the hands of unidentified individuals. He questioned who had authorised such actions and whether the people involved had the legal power to detain citizens. The legislator warned that enforced disappearances and detention without clear accountability would undermine the principles of justice and respect for human rights that he said he had known the NRM to promote for decades.
The MP also expressed concern about the allegations made by Aloikin following her release from prison on bail. The young mother and governance activist had reportedly made critical statements about the conduct of security agencies and claimed she had experienced abusive treatment while in detention. Opondo challenged police leaders and those allegedly responsible for her custody to respond publicly to the accusations. He argued that such serious claims should not be ignored and that the relevant authorities needed to explain what happened rather than leave the public guessing.
Opondo further linked the controversy to the broader responsibility of the ruling party and the government to protect citizens’ rights. He argued that the NRM could not simply distance itself from alleged abuses committed by security personnel because the party leads the government and its national chairman, President Yoweri Museveni, appoints senior public officials. In his view, allegations of unlawful detention and mistreatment required accountability from the institutions responsible for maintaining law and order. He warned that allowing such incidents to continue would damage the credibility of a movement he has supported for much of his adult life.
During the debate, Opondo also pushed back against a fellow legislator associated with the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), who reportedly challenged him for linking the alleged conduct of individual security officers to the wider NRM and security establishment. Opondo dismissed the criticism, insisting that the ruling party could not avoid responsibility for the actions of institutions operating under the government it leads. His intervention drew reactions from opposition legislators, some of whom appeared to agree with his concerns about alleged human rights violations and the need for greater accountability.
The remarks have also drawn comparisons with recent comments by veteran politician and Internal Affairs Minister Kahinda Otafiire, who has previously been reported as criticising aspects of the PLU leadership. Opondo’s intervention comes amid wider public debate about the role of the organisation and its supporters in Uganda’s political future. By raising concerns about the treatment of a young activist, he has placed himself in a sensitive discussion involving security agencies, ruling party politics and the responsibilities of those in power.
Aloikin’s case has attracted particular attention because reports indicate that she had recently criticised Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba before the alleged incident involving her detention. However, the circumstances surrounding her reported transfer to unidentified men, as well as the allegations of torture and mistreatment, require clarification from the relevant authorities. Opondo’s demand for an explanation has intensified calls for transparency, while the claims themselves should be distinguished from findings established through an independent investigation or court proceedings.
Opondo’s parliamentary intervention could therefore fuel further debate within the NRM and among supporters of the PLU, particularly over how the government responds to allegations involving security personnel. The legislator insisted that protecting citizens’ rights should remain a priority regardless of their political opinions or criticism of powerful individuals. Whether the Minister of Internal Affairs and police leadership will provide a detailed explanation remains to be seen. For now, Opondo’s message is that allegations of unlawful detention and abuse cannot simply be brushed aside without answers, especially in a country where the government has a duty to uphold the law and protect its citizens.
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