Jimmy Spire Ssentongo
Jimmy Spire Ssentongo is a Ugandan academic, columnist, editorial cartoonist, author, and anti-corruption activist. He is an associate professor of Ethics and Identity Studies at Uganda Martyrs University, and also teaches Ethics and Research Methods at Makerere University.
Ssentongo is known for his editorial cartoons in The Observer newspaper and for spearheading a series of high-impact online campaigns using social media to expose alleged corruption and maladministration in Ugandan public institutions.
Early life and education
Jimmy Spire Ssentongo holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Humanistic Studies from the University of Humanistic Studies in the Netherlands, which he defended in 2015. His academic qualifications also include a Master of Arts in Ethics and Public Management from Makerere University, a Master of Science in Education for Sustainability from London South Bank University, a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University, and a diploma in Philosophy and Religious Studies from the Apostles of Jesus Philosophicum in Nairobi.He has undertaken post-doctoral fellowships as a visiting research fellow at the Centre for African Studies at the University of Cambridge and as a research fellow on the African Humanities Program.
Career
Academic and media career
Ssentongo is an associate professor at Uganda Martyrs University, where he founded and chaired the Center for African Studies. He also serves as an editor for the university's monograph series. Concurrently, he teaches ethics and research methodology at the Department of Philosophy at Makerere University. His academic research focuses on ethics, identity studies, pluralism, and decolonization.Since 2005, Ssentongo has been the editorial cartoonist for The Observer newspaper, where he also writes a regular column. His cartoons use satire and visual commentary to address issues of governance, corruption, and human rights in Uganda.
Ssentongo collaborated with Ruth Murambadoro, a Zimbabwean feminist scholar on African and transnational feminisms through a panel discussion and creative exhibition events hosted by York University’s Centre for Feminist Research in October 2025.
Online activism and social media campaigns
In 2023, Ssentongo began using social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), to launch a series of "exhibitions", online campaigns that crowdsource photographic and documented evidence from citizens to highlight systemic failures.- #KampalaPotholeExhibition: Started in April 2023, this campaign exposed the poor state of roads in Uganda's capital, Kampala. Citizens shared thousands of images of potholes, which generated widespread media coverage and public debate. The campaign prompted a direct response from President Yoweri Museveni, who ordered the release of funds for road repairs.
- #UgandaHealthExhibition: Following the success of the first campaign, Ssentongo initiated an exhibition focused on the dilapidated state of Uganda's healthcare system. Citizens shared images of underfunded and poorly equipped hospitals, which led to responses from health ministry officials.
- #UgandaParliamentExhibition: In 2024, Ssentongo, alongside journalist Agather Atuhaire and other activists, co-led his most high-profile campaign. The exhibition used leaked documents to expose alleged corruption, nepotism, and extravagant expenditure within the Parliament of Uganda. The campaign dominated national discourse for weeks and led to increased public scrutiny of parliamentary administration and finances.
- #StopAirtelTheft Campaign: In August 2025, Ssentongo launched theis campaign on X after alleging that his brother’s Airtel Money account was fraudulently accessed and emptied following the theft of his phone. He accused Airtel Uganda of negligence and possible insider involvement, and invited other customers to share similar experiences. The campaign quickly gained traction, with numerous users posting accounts of unresolved mobile-money fraud, leading to national discussions on telecom accountability and consumer protection in Uganda.
- In November 2025, with an interim injunction, Kampala International University filed a defamation lawsuit against Jim Spire over students and staff grievances
Awards and recognition
Ssentongo has received several awards for his work as a cartoonist, academic, and human rights defender.| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
| 2016 | Uganda National Journalism Awards | Editorial Cartooning | Cartoons for The Observer | Runner-up | |
| 2021 | Janzi Awards | Outstanding Cartoonist | Editorial cartooning | Won | |
| 2021 | Janzi Awards | Outstanding Non-Fiction Writer | Himself | ||
| 2023 | Civil Liberties Award | Defending Civil Liberties | Activism | Won | |
| 2023 | National Human Rights Defenders Award | Human Rights Defender of the Year | Activism | Won | |
| 2024 | EU Human Rights Defenders Award | Outstanding Contribution to Human Rights | Activism | Won | |
| 2024 | Global Anti-Corruption Champions | Among 10 Global Anti-Corruption Champions recognized by US Department of State | Activism | Won |