A wave of public solidarity has erupted on social media as Ugandans on X (formerly Twitter) rally to support renowned academic, satirical cartoonist, and human rights advocate Dr. Jimmy Spire Ssentongo following a High Court ruling ordering him to pay Shs30 million or face three months in civil prison.
The controversy stems from an ongoing legal dispute between Dr. Ssentongo and Kampala International University (KIU). On June 18, 2026, the High Court (Civil Division) registrar, Mr Kintu Simon Zirintusa, ruled that Dr Ssentongo was in contempt of a prior court order issued on December 17, 2025, which restricted him from publishing content deemed damaging to the institution’s reputation.
The source of the dispute
The contempt application arose from a March 18, 2026 post by Dr. Ssentongo on his X handle regarding a tuition dispute involving his late brother’s sons. In the post, the academic recounted how his nephews had paid Shs15.57 million to KIU before opting to transfer to another institution prior to starting classes.
“Having failed even to get the partial refund provided for in the University’s policies, they talked to the DVC FA for the option of transferring the fees to two other students who were already at KIU,” Dr Ssentongo posted at the time. “He accepted and said it was sorted. But it never reflected on the system, and they continued demanding for fees from the two students until they paid not to miss exams. One year later, they haven’t transferred the fees! Dear KIU, no amount of suing is going to clean up your name in the public’s eyes when you continue to act with impunity and meanness like this. Address stakeholders’ concerns.”
KIU filed an application seeking to have Dr. Ssentongo committed to civil prison, alongside demands for Shs1 billion in exemplary damages and a Shs200 million fine for violating the December 2025 injunction.
In his ruling, Registrar Zirintusa noted that Dr. Ssentongo failed to act in good faith by continuing to post about the university despite being aware of the existing court order.
“Appealing against the order does not guarantee you a right to violate a court order with no order of stay obtained,” the registrar held, ordering Dr. Ssentongo to pay a fine of Shs10 million within 14 days or face three months in civil prison. Additionally, the court ordered him to pay Shs20 million in punitive and exemplary damages to KIU, as well as the legal costs of the application.
Public backlash and fundraising drive
The court’s decision quickly ignited widespread outrage among human rights defenders, political figures, and ordinary citizens, who viewed the sentence as an attempt to gag a prominent public voice. Within hours of the ruling, a public fundraising initiative via Mobile Money was launched to help cover the fine, rapidly raising over Shs3 million in its early stages.
Prominent human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza criticized the ruling, describing it as an attack on public accountability and freedom of expression.
“This oppressive court order is a gag order dressed in legal robes. It is an attack on freedom of expression, and on every Ugandan’s right to ask a powerful institution to account for how it treats the people in its care,” Mr. Kiiza stated on X. “When a university can walk into a courtroom and walk out with the power to silence, intimidate and threaten to jail a prominent lecturer and national figure – what fate waits for an ordinary student who dares to disagree with it?”
National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, also called on the public to rally behind the academic, alleging that state machinery was being used to suppress vocal critics.
“Dr. Jimmy Spire Ssentongo has spent years using his voice and talents to hold power accountable as his contribution towards a better society for us all. Instead of honoring his work, the regime is actively working to silence him,” Mr. Kyagulanyi posted. “A court order was recently issued against him, by which he is required to pay a total of Shs30,000,000 within 14 days or spend three months in prison… I am calling on all Ugandans of good conscience, in Uganda and abroad, to stand with Dr. Spire in whatever way we can.”
While the fundraising drive continues to gather momentum across digital platforms, several legal analysts and advocates are simultaneously urging Dr. Ssentongo’s defense team to appeal the ruling, arguing that the decision sets a concerning precedent for public interest advocacy and consumer rights in Uganda.