Academic, columnist, portraitist, author, human rights defender and editorial cartoonist, Dr Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, says he is committed to making Uganda a better place for everyone.
An Associate professor of Ethics and Identity Studies at Uganda Martyrs University and Ethics and Research methods at Makerere University, Dr Spire made the remarks on Monday, December 9, 2024, while receiving the prestigious Anti-Corruption Champions Award 2024, presented by the United States Department of State.
He is among 10 recipients from around the world and one of only two awardees from Africa, the other being a human rights advocate from Gambia.
Humbling recognition
In his acceptance message, Dr Spire expressed gratitude for the recognition while emphasising that his advocacy is driven by conviction rather than the pursuit of awards.
“I feel that the initial impetus is not to get awards and that even for many Ugandans they are not speaking out because they would want to get an award to be recognised. Because they feel affected and obliged to do something about what they see in their circumstances that affects them directly, affects the community or effects them. The country at large and its image,” he stated in an interview with U.S. Department of State.
He acknowledged the collective efforts of Ugandans speaking out against societal injustices, noting that these actions are often driven by a deep sense of obligation to their communities and country, rather than a desire for accolades.
“It’s a humbling recognition, knowing that, while I have tried to play my humble part in fighting corruption and bad governance, many others are doing the same with significant sacrifices,” Dr. Spire remarked.
Advocacy beyond recognition
Dr. Spire, a steadfast advocate for good governance and human rights, reiterated that awards are encouraging but secondary to his principles and dreams.
“We must do what we can, with or without recognition or appreciation, to make our country a better place—especially for those at the margins without a voice,” he stated.
He extended heartfelt thanks to his colleagues at Agora CFR and collaborators who share his vision of a fair and equitable Uganda.
The United States launched the Anti-Corruption Champions Award in 2021 to recognize individuals who have taken remarkable steps to counter corruption, and to demonstrate U.S. solidarity with these heroic partners.
Dr Spire’s recognition highlights his relentless fight against corruption and his advocacy for marginalised voices in Uganda. His recognition has drawn congratulations from various quarters, with many praising his courage and commitment to creating a more just society.
This award underscores the importance of grassroots advocacy in driving systemic change and inspiring others to join the fight for justice and equality.
Committed to social change
In 2013, Dr Spire received two awards– The Human Rights Defenders Impact Award (2023) for the most outstanding human rights defender of the year 2023 from the National Coalition of Human Rights Organisations – Uganda in partnership with the Kingdom of the Netherlands and The Civil Liberties Award (2023) from Chapter Four Uganda in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.
Through his editorial cartoons in The Observer newspaper, he has also been involved in justice-oriented social media activism. Spire uses his art to comment on issues such as corruption, governance, and human rights through humour and satire.
He is famed for the recent social media exhibitions highlighting failures in transport, health, education, and other sectors. The most famous one was the ‘Kampala Pothole Exhibition’ which drew attention to the poor state of Uganda’s roads and moved the government and KCCA to fix all the potholes in the capital city.
Born on August 14, 1979, Ssentongo holds a PhD in Humanistic Studies from the University of Humanistic Studies in Holland; a Masters in Ethics and Public Management (Makerere University); a Master of Science in Education for Sustainability (London South Bank University); BA in Philosophy (Urbaniana); and a Diploma in Philosophy and Religious Studies (Apostles of Jesus Philosophicum, Nairobi).
