Ugandan activist Marinos Alexandros has died from complications linked to HIV/AIDS, which she allegedly contracted after being arrested, tortured, and raped while in state custody.
She passed away in the early hours of Sunday, August 17, 2025, at about 1:30 a.m., following years of suffering in exile and illness.
Opposition leader Bobi Wine confirmed her death in a heartfelt message on X.
He said Alexandros was abducted on March 30, 2022, in Mbuya after playing Bobi Wine’s music on loudspeaker. She was taken to the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), where she was brutally tortured and raped.
After she was released, Marinos Alexandros spoke publicly about the ordeal. That act of courage exposed her to even more danger. She began receiving threatening phone calls, and one night her home was raided by men who came looking for her. She escaped only because she had chosen to spend the night at her friend’s.
Marinos Alexandros Flees to Kenya
Fearing for her life, she fled to Kenya, first living in Nairobi, before regime operatives allegedly attempted to abduct her again. This forced her to move into a UNHCR refugee camp, where she lived under difficult conditions for months.
Her health deteriorated as a result of the torture, and she struggled with complications, including HIV/AIDS.
In 2024, Marinos Alexandros began treatment with support from colleagues, but the isolation of the refugee camp made life unbearable. A few weeks ago, she returned to Uganda to seek treatment while being close to her family.
Sadly, her condition worsened, and she died surrounded by loved ones.
Her death has sparked grief and outrage among Ugandans at home and abroad. Many described her as a courageous woman who paid the ultimate price for daring to resist oppression.
By Vivian K.