Ugandan nude protester wins top EU human rights award
Aloikin Opoloje recognized for fearless activism in defense of civil liberties and accountability
In a bold affirmation of civic defiance and bodily autonomy, Ugandan activist and law student Aloikin Praise Opoloje has been named the 2025 European Union Human Rights Defender of the Year. The award recognizes her fearless commitment to civil liberties, anti-corruption, and women’s rights in a country where speaking out often comes at a heavy personal cost.
Opoloje, 25, rose to national prominence in September 2024 when she and two other young women staged a symbolic nude protest near Uganda’s Parliament. With slogans painted on their bodies and only their pelvic areas covered, the protestors called for the resignation of Speaker Anita Among, following allegations of widespread corruption. The act was met with arrests, public outcry, and global attention—but also ignited a new wave of civic engagement among Ugandan youth.
Speaking at the award ceremony held May 15 at the Swedish Ambassador’s residence in Kampala, EU Ambassador Jan Sadek applauded Opoloje as “a beacon of courage in the struggle for freedom and dignity.”1 He emphasized that despite multiple arrests and prison detentions, she continues to galvanize a new generation toward political consciousness and accountability.
Opoloje’s nudity
Opoloje’s anti-corruption activism has earned her international praise—and it was her unapologetic use of nudity as a form of protest that helped attract international attention to her cause. Drawing on the traditional African practice of using nakedness to curse injustice, Opoloje reimagined the tactic as a modern assertion of power. “Forget the colonial legacy of sexualizing women’s bodies,” she told News Decoder. “What if the very thing meant to silence us could be a source of power?”2
Her use of nudity in protest is political, as well as philosophical. It challenges the social stigma attached to the naked body, reframing it as a vessel for truth and resistance. In doing so, Opoloje joins a global tradition of nude protest that includes Femen activists in Europe, indigenous women in Latin America, and anti-rape demonstrators in India. In her acceptance speech, Opoloje remained focused on the collective struggle. “This award belongs to every Ugandan who continues to speak up, to organize, and to push for a more just and equitable society,” she said. “We will not be silenced.”3 🪐
Atukunda, R. (2025, May 17). Aloikin Praise Wins 2025 EU Human Rights Award for Bold Activism. SoftPower. https://softpower.ug/aloikin-praise-wins-2025-eu-human-rights-award-for-bold-activism/
Wanderema, E. (2025, May 20). Human Rights Are Not Just for Those in Power. News Decoder. https://news-decoder.com/human-rights-are-not-just-for-those-in-power/
(Atukunda, 2025).
Congratulations on a great article about some brave young ladies 1 of whom got very high recognition.