Activist and law student, Aloikin Praise Opoloje, has been named the winner of the EU Human
Rights Defenders’ Award 2025.
The award, which was presented during a ceremony on 15th May at the residence of the Ambassador of Sweden in Kampala, is given annually by the European Union to recognise an outstanding contribution by a human rights defender in Uganda.
Opoloje was chosen as the winner in recognition of her courageous activism for civil liberties, accountability, social justice, and anti-corruption in Uganda.
Born in 1999 in Paliisa district, she is a final-year Law student at Makerere University. She currently serves as the
Student Engagement Lead at Open Parly UG, where she organizes student debates on parliamentary issues, and volunteers with the Dwona Initiative, working to combat period poverty and misinformation.
In 2024, Aloikin was actively involved in campaigns addressing political accountability, women’s rights, and violations of civic freedoms. Through both grassroots mobilization and digital campaigns, she continues to inspire young people to participate in public life and push for a fairer, more inclusive Uganda.
Receiving the award, Opoloje recognised the new young generation of human rights defenders in Uganda.
“When we call for human rights, we do it passionately and we do it hopefully, for the future we never had and for the past we cannot talk about,” she said.
European Union Ambassador to Uganda Jan Sadek said despite challenges faced, notably being arrested twice and
Remanded to Luzira prison, Opoloje carried on and encouraged young people to get involved in the affairs of the country.
Sadek also commended the work of the Ugandan Human Rights Commission, saying its chairperson, Mariam Wangadya, deserved a warm appreciation for raising her voice against torture, as well as advocating for press freedom.
Others hortlisted for this year’s award were: Hussein Kato Muyinda, a lawyer and environmental rights defender, and Norah Kobusingye, a vocal defender of women’s rights. Muyinda was nominated for his inspiring work on environmental protection. As the co-founder of the Earth Rights Initiative, he has been at the forefront of the struggle for environmental justice.
Last year, he was elected General Secretary of Climate Action Network Uganda (CAN-U). Kobusingye was nominated for her bold stand against corruption and gender-based violence. She is also the co-Executive Director at Freedom Hive Uganda and CEO of Good Future and Hope.
The ambassador of Sweden to Uganda, Maria HĂĄkansson, thanked the three shortlisted candidates for their courage to shine a light on violations and abuses of human rights, and underlined the responsibility of the Ugandan state
under international law to respect, to protect and to fulfil human rights for all its citizens, including taking measures to protect Human Rights Defenders.
Past winners of the EU HRD Award
2012: Gerald Kankya of Twerwaneho Listeners Club
2013: Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala, former Coordinator of Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ).
2014: Three joint winners: Gladys Canogura of Kitgum Women Peace Initiative, Assistant Commissioner of Police Christine Alalo, Head of the Uganda Police Family and Child Protection Unit, and Mohammed Ndifuna, Director of the Human Rights Network Uganda
2015: Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana, Founder & Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI)
2016: Robert Sempala of the Human Rights Network of Journalists (HRNJ)
2017: Pamela Angwech, Founder & Executive Director of the Gulu Women’s Economic Development & Globalization (GWED-G).
2018: Two joint winners, Margaret Arach Orech, Founder and Director of the Uganda Landmine Survivors Association (ULSA), and Peter Sewakiryanga, a pastor with Kyampisi Childcare Ministries (KCM).
2019: William Amanzuru, an environmental rights defender and founder of Friends of Zoka.
2020: Aimé Moninga, Founder of Men of Hope and an advocate for the rights of male survivors of sexual violence in conflict
2021: Rita Aciro, Women’s Rights Defender and Executive Director of the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET);
2022: Primah Kwagalah, Executive Director of the Women’s Pro-bono Initiative
2023: Agather Atuhaire, Team Leader at Agora Discourse
2024: Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, Academic Cartoonist and Activist