KAMPALA, Uganda — Ugandans have raised Shs24 million in less than 24 hours to help academic and cartoonist Jimmy Spire Ssentongo meet a court-ordered Shs30 million financial penalty and avoid a three-month civil prison term.
The fundraising campaign was launched over the weekend by activists, journalists, political leaders and other supporters following Ssentongo’s legal dispute with Kampala International University (KIU).
Human rights activist Agather Atuhaire, who is coordinating the campaign, said contributions had reached Shs24 million by Sunday, leaving organisers Shs6 million short of their target.
“We now stand at UGX 24,000,000 for @SpireJim. So Ugandans have contributed 24M in the last 24 hours!! This is love. This is solidarity. This is defiance. This is appreciation… and so much more,” Atuhaire said.
The campaign’s rapid fundraising has drawn support from prominent activists and opposition politicians, reflecting the public backing Ssentongo has received during his legal battle with the university.
Ssentongo thanked Atuhaire, human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza and other contributors for their support.
“I read from @kiizaeron that the launch was to be on Monday, but Love couldn’t wait to speak! What more wealth than living in people’s hearts! Thank you all, friends indeed. I can’t finish the list,” he said.
In another response, Ssentongo wrote: “Thanks @AAgather and @kiizaeron, thanks everyone! No words.”
Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, also amplified the campaign and urged Ugandans to support Ssentongo, whom he credited with using his work to raise questions about accountability.
Why Ssentongo was ordered to pay Shs30 million
The fundraising follows a June 18, 2026 ruling by the High Court Civil Division in which Registrar Kintu Simon Zirintusa found Ssentongo in contempt of court.
The court ordered him to pay a Shs10 million fine within 14 days or face three months in civil prison. It also ordered him to pay KIU Shs20 million in punitive and exemplary damages, in addition to costs.
The proceedings arose from an earlier court order restraining Ssentongo from publishing or circulating material that the court found capable of injuring KIU’s reputation.
Ssentongo continued publishing material about the university despite the order. The court subsequently held that his appeal against the underlying order did not suspend his obligation to comply because he had not obtained a stay of execution.
The contempt proceedings centred on a March 18, 2026 social media post in which Ssentongo accused KIU of failing to transfer Shs15.57 million in tuition fees paid for two of his nephews.
Ssentongo’s account was that the two students had paid fees but subsequently changed universities before beginning their studies at KIU. He said university officials agreed to transfer the money to two other students at the institution, but that the transfer was not completed.
KIU returned to court, arguing that the publication breached the existing injunction.
The university had sought Shs1 billion in punitive and exemplary damages and a Shs200 million contempt fine. The court ultimately awarded Shs20 million in punitive and exemplary damages and imposed a Shs10 million fine.
Fundraiser framed as defence of free expression
Supporters of Ssentongo have presented the fundraising campaign as more than an effort to settle a financial penalty, arguing that his case raises wider questions about freedom of expression, institutional accountability and the ability of citizens to criticise powerful organisations.
The campaign, however, does not alter the court’s findings in the contempt proceedings. The financial obligations arise from the High Court’s ruling, while Ssentongo’s supporters are separately challenging what they regard as the broader implications of the case.
Also Read: Activists launch fundraiser for Jimmy Spire Ssentongo after KIU contempt ruling
Ssentongo is an academic, columnist and editorial cartoonist whose work has appeared in The Observer since 2006.
In May 2026, he jointly received the Kofi Annan Courage in Cartooning Award from the Freedom Cartoonists Foundation and the City of Geneva.
He has also developed a substantial online following through campaigns focusing on corruption, public services and institutional accountability.
Shs6 million still needed
With Shs24 million raised, the campaign is now seeking a further Shs6 million to reach the Shs30 million required to cover the court-ordered fine and damages.
The speed at which the funds were raised has underscored the level of public support for Ssentongo among activists and sections of Uganda’s political and civic community.
For his supporters, the immediate priority is to raise the remaining amount and prevent the court’s three-month civil prison order from taking effect while the wider legal dispute continues.
