Ugandans have rallied behind academic and cartoonist Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, raising Shs24 million in less than 24 hours to help him meet a Shs30 million court order and avoid three months in civil prison.
The fundraising drive was launched over the weekend following Ssentongo’s legal dispute with Kampala International University (KIU), attracting contributions and support from activists, journalists, politicians and members of the public.
Human rights activist Agather Atuhaire, who is leading the campaign, announced on Sunday evening that the contributions had reached Shs24 million.
“We now stand at Shs24,000,000 for @SpireJim. So Ugandans have contributed Shs24M 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 now needs another Shs6 million to reach its Shs30 million target.
The fundraising comes after the High Court’s Civil Division found Ssentongo guilty of contempt of court in a ruling delivered on 18 June 2026.
High Court Civil Division Registrar Kintu Simon Zirintusa ordered Ssentongo to pay a Shs10 million fine within 14 days or serve three months in civil prison. He was also ordered to pay KIU Shs20 million in punitive and exemplary damages, in addition to legal costs.
The contempt case stemmed from an earlier court order barring Ssentongo from publishing or circulating information that the court considered damaging to KIU’s reputation.
Although Ssentongo challenged the order, the court held that his appeal did not suspend the injunction because he had not obtained a stay of execution.
The proceedings centred on a post Ssentongo published on 18 March 2026 concerning Shs15.57 million in tuition fees paid for two of his nephews.
Ssentongo said the two had paid the fees but later changed universities before starting their studies at KIU. According to him, university officials subsequently agreed to transfer the money to two other students at the institution, but the transfer was never completed.
KIU returned to court, arguing that Ssentongo’s post breached the existing injunction.
The university had sought Shs1 billion in exemplary damages and a Shs200 million fine against Ssentongo. However, the court ultimately ordered him to pay Shs10 million as a fine and Shs20 million to KIU in damages.
The fundraising campaign continues as supporters work to raise the remaining Shs6 million.
