Academic, cartoonist and social commentator Dr. Jimmy Spire Ssentongo says supporters have raised enough money to settle the Shs30 million financial penalty arising from his legal dispute with Kampala International University (KIU).
Ssentongo announced the development on Thursday, thanking members of the public who contributed to the fundraising campaign launched after the High Court found him in contempt of court.
“With your contributions, the 30m for KIU and the court fine is sorted,” Ssentongo said in a post on X. He added that he was now waiting to establish how much his opponents’ lawyers, Lwere and Lwanyaga Advocates, would charge in legal costs.
The fundraising campaign attracted significant public attention, with Ugandans on X contributing towards the court-imposed financial obligations. Earlier reports indicated that more than Shs24 million had been raised within the first 24 hours of the campaign.
How the dispute started
The legal dispute stems from Ssentongo’s criticism of KIU over a tuition-related matter involving two children of his late brother.
Ssentongo had complained publicly that the students had paid about Shs15.57 million to KIU before deciding to transfer to another institution. He said the university had agreed to transfer the fees to other students but that the transfer was not subsequently reflected in the university system.
KIU subsequently went to court and obtained an order restricting Ssentongo from publishing material that was considered damaging to the university’s reputation.
On March 18, 2026, Ssentongo published another post about the dispute, despite the existing order. The university then sought contempt proceedings against him.
On June 18, the High Court Civil Division found Ssentongo in contempt of court and ordered him to pay Shs10 million within 14 days or face three months in civil prison. The court also ordered him to pay KIU Shs20 million in punitive and exemplary damages, together with the costs of the application.
The court had noted that Ssentongo’s appeal against the earlier order did not suspend its operation because he had not obtained a stay.
KIU had sought Shs1 billion in exemplary damages and a Shs200 million fine, but the court awarded the combined Shs30 million in penalties and damages.
Public rally behind Spire
The court ruling triggered a wave of solidarity on social media, with journalists, activists, academics and other members of the public contributing towards the financial penalty.
The fundraising became a broader expression of support for Ssentongo, who is known for his editorial cartoons and social-media campaigns addressing governance, accountability and public service issues.
By Sunday, reports indicated that contributors had raised about Shs24 million, leaving Shs6 million to reach the target. The target was subsequently met, according to Ssentongo’s latest announcement.
Ssentongo has now thanked those who contributed, while saying the outstanding issue is the legal costs that may be awarded in favour of KIU’s lawyers.
The latest development does not, however, bring the broader dispute between Ssentongo and KIU to an end, with legal costs and other aspects of the case still potentially outstanding.
Ssentongo’s announcement also means that the immediate financial obligation of Shs30 million arising from the contempt proceedings has been covered through public contributions.
Both sides remain involved in a legal dispute over Ssentongo’s publications concerning the university.
