A group of activists on Wednesday staged a unique protest in Kampala, using mannequins to call for the release of Dr Kizza Besigye and other political prisoners.
The protesters strategically placed the mannequins dressed and holding placards with various messages along Buganda Road and outside the Supreme court, drawing attention from passersby and law enforcement.
The mannequins were accompanied by megaphones playing recorded chants, including “Free political prisoners,” and messages denouncing military trials of civilians.
The protest was led by Aloikin Praise Opoloje, who said the symbolic action was meant to highlight the government’s continued detention of political prisoners and the judiciary’s failure to enforce its own rulings.
“The Supreme court has been silent since its ruling. They must ensure the government enforces it, but they’ve seemingly washed their hands of the matter. That’s why we’re protesting and we’ll keep doing so until our demands are met,” said Aloikin.
She pointed to the continued detention of prominent opposition figures such as Dr Kizza Besigye and Hajji Obedi Lutale, both of whom were prosecuted in military courts despite being civilians.
She added that several of her colleagues including TikTok influencers, human rights activists, and opposition members are still facing persecution for their political views. Police officers from the Central Police Station (CPS) responded by removing the mannequins and loading them into patrol vehicles.
However, no arrests were made during the protest. Aloikin emphasized that the activists would not relent and vowed to continue using creative forms of peaceful protest.
“We’ve been arrested before, detained at Luzira during the Gen Z protests in 2024 and our nude protest. This time, we’re choosing more tactical yet peaceful means to fight for our freedom,” she said. “Be assured, more creative protests are on the horizon. We’re going to make sure this government doesn’t sleep easily.”
The protest adds to the growing pressure on authorities to release political detainees and respect civil liberties, particularly in light of ongoing criticism over the use of military courts to try civilians.
Aloikin Praise Opoloje and those with whom she is protesting with, are the true activists. Unfortunately, we have left them in cold! Other opposition figures and leaders are only interested in taxpayers’ money. It’s really embarrassing that our LoP, Senyonyi still believe that there’s democracy in Uganda. He was busy collecting 70 MPs signatures! Mbu to expose the NRM MPs whom M7 gave Sh. 100m each as gratification for passing the coffee bill, which cover for the passing of the militant to try civilians in militant courts. NUP acts as if they are doing something new and leading us to believe that M7 agenda ku lokoka. Mbu M7 is going to denounce corruption, right? M7 has been corrupt to the core since the beginning time. 70 MPs can’t change M7. Even if all the 527 MPs signed Senyoni’s petition, M7 won’t change and never will. So, why is Senyonyi paying on our minds? Greed. Mbu, he wants to show us that he cares, right?
Its actually you Remase who is waiting for ssenyonyi yet you would just join Opoloje
Now you are looking at LOP with hate for the work he is doing in the house
Remasse, why is the Leader of the Opposition catching stray bullets in your comment? Why the constant negativity toward everything NUP does? Isn’t Besigye a member of FDC or PFF? Why are their MPs silent on this issue? I’ve never heard them advocating for the release of NUP activists who are rotting in jail. Let’s drop the hypocrisy and bias—we need to work together instead of pointing fingers at each other.
Remase is NRM, but wants to hide that he is in opposition, but mbu more objective, his name is Remase who would believe such name
Mawanda, Besigye’s lawyers, led by Lukwago, have repeatedly included each and everybody of them of those who are persecuted and incarcerated due to their political view to be released. Due to your prejudice, you conveniently blame FDC and PFF. On the other hand, Kyagulanyi has sown division ever since he came on the political scene to Challege M7. From the get-go, Kyagulanyi came out swinging at Besigye and blamed him for standing against M7 and lost but blamed it on lack of democracy. Kyagulanyi told us that there’s democracy in Uganda and assured us that he would show us that it works. That’s exactly where the division who’re talking about was sown. To this date Kyagulanyi is still indomitable to show us that there’s democracy and it works.
To Kyagulanyi, it’s business as usual for them to participate in violent and bogus elections while “NUP activists are rotting in jail.” Those NUP activists have been incarcerated since Nov 2020, what has Kyagulanyi done? Continue his business as usual, participating in each and every violent and bogus elections, which is the cause of the incarcerated of NUP activist and Besigye as well.
Mawanda, where is unity in that? If that isn’t hypocrisy and bias, what is? All Kyagulanyi ever cared about is to be the leading opposition figure and NUP the leading opposition party in parliament. Kyagulanyi accomplished that. Now, all he cares about is, “next violent and bogus elections.”
Mawanda, violent and bogus elections are the sour/cause of our division.
Meant “of those who’re persecuted…” and “the division you’re talking about…”
Remase, thanks.
The fake parliament is Museveni’s official tool, but Ugandans can stop all this inhumanity; NO to the tribalistic system & UNITY with just ONE of them as National/Common Leader are all they need!
Going to next useless, fake elections will only reaffirm Museveni’s ownership of Uganda & tax money & control of every institution!
Have mps assured constituencies are developed, Agriculture modernised…?
MPs are using Ugandans to ensure their pays for doing NOTHING, knowing they work for Rwandese Museveni & are well payed with tax money & Uganda belongs to him!
Why will Ugandans go for next fake elections to ensure continuity of this inhumanity, abuse for 45 years?
Akot, my dearest, there’s a sleazebag here who uses multiple fugazi names like Wooden K and others, and hell bent on convincing us that there’s democracy and rule of law in Uganda simply because Kyagulanyi is the leading opposition figure and NUP is the leading opposition party in parliament. In other word, everything is lovey-dovey, and we should keep going to violent and bogus polls so that our political leaders can continue to make money. Just [watch] wait and see. Ssenyonyi is just an empty tin making noise. This is not the first time M7 has used taxpayers’ money to buy MPs to rubber stamp oppressive laws in parliament. This is what M7 does for a living and Ssenyonyi wants us to believe that M7 is going to change because 71 MPs signed a petition, right? Once the militant bill that will reinstate militant courts to try civilians comes before parliament, it’ll pass and Ssenyonyi won’t do anything to stop it. Just like all other bills, including but not limited to, the coffee bill, to which M7 rewarded MPs with Sh. 100m each. Ssenyonyi could write and sign all mother of petitions in the world, however, M7 is corrupt to the core and Ssenyonyi clearly knows it but only interested in making money in politics.
{Why are their MPs silent on this issue? I’ve never heard them advocating for the release of NUP activists who are rotting in jail. we need to work together instead of pointing fingers at each other.}
Robert Mawanda, thanks.
The issue is ending Rwandese Museveni’s ownership of Uganda & tax money, control of every institution, including parliament!
Mps know Uganda belongs to Museveni, reason they please him to ensure their pays, but Ugandans can stop them by not going for next useless parliamentary election!
Without NO to the tribalistic system, tribal leaders standing down & UNITY, Museveni is going no where with or without fake presidential election!
So, are Ugandans continuing getting at one another, or are they going to UNITE & stop Museveni, then form the kind of governance they want?
For how much long will Dr Besugye & all those in prison for opposing Rwandese Museveni, support this inhumanity?
Why are Ugandans still powerless tribally divided ruled, just ensuring the zone formed by their tribal lands belongs to Rwandese Museveni?
Ugandans have made it their birthright to torture one another to please Museveni & ensure his lifetime rule & succession by his son in the waiting, WHY?
Senyonyi’s list is just laughable cos many of the MPs on there, have already picked the money and he knows it only playing on the minds of foot soldiers.
This will not shake museveni you need more robust protests. Like Arab spring
. But constant dripping of water can wear out stones
Most of our MPs are pathological liars. What we want to see as proof are receipts from the Bank of Uganda that the money was indeed returned and it should only be that bank.
Signatures are a joke. Knowing this greedy hyenas, I ca count those who returned the money on my one hand fingers
What do these rotten MPs tell their children when they are being shamed in public? Is this an example they want them to follow? Take the money but know that people on the streets have no respect for you any more. This is the worst Parliament in the history of Uganda and it will take decades for the people to get over it
Indeed, the worst parliament in the history of Uganda! Sh. 100m each, right? And the best Ssenyonyi could do, is to collect 71 signatures of the MPs! Then what? What have they [MPs] done for us, which could give us hope that change is on the way? Ssenyonyi is only motivated by greed! Just like Kyagulanyi, Ssenyonyi will say and do anything to get his hands on taxpayers’ money by make believe that he is relevant by making a lot of noise like an empty tin.