Humanities & Social Sciences
Dr. Jimmy Spire Ssentongo Gets Two Human Rights Defense Awards
Makerere University’s Senior Lecturer, Dr. Jimmy Spire Ssentongo has won two awards- The Human Rights Defenders Impact Award (2023) and The Civil Liberties Award (2023)
Ssentongo received the prestigious award of 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 .
Dr. Ssentongo was recognised for his outstanding contribution to human rights spheres and continued resielience in Uganda. He received the Human Rights Defenders Impact Award 2023 during the International Human Rights Defenders Day Commemoration on 8th December 2023, at the Source of the Nile Hotel, Jinja city.
Jimmy Spire Ssentongo is a Senior lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, College of Humanities and Social Sciences. He is a multiple award winning engaged academic with a conviction that academics ought to actively involve themselves in problems affecting their societies.
Accordingly, he writes a column in the Observer newspaper where he also contributes editorial cartoons. As an ethicist, he has also been involved in justice-oriented social media activism.
The Civil Liberties Award 2023
The Philosophy teacher, cartoonist and columnist also received The Civil Liberties Award from Chapter Four Uganda in partnership with Konrad Adeneur Stiftung. The Civil Liberties Award 2023 was in recognition of his outstanding and courageous contributions in the defense of civil liberties in Uganda .
Born on August 14, 1979, Ssentongo holds a PhD in Humanistic Studies from the University of Humanistic Studies in Holland; Masters in Ethics and Public Management (Makerere University); 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).
As a cartoonist and artist, Ssentongo utilises art as a tool to motivate, dialogue with those in authorithy on political and social issues affecting Ugandans. He has become an influential figure in the Ugandan art scene and a prominent voice for change using his art to comment on issues such as corruption, governance, and human rights. Spire draws bold and incisive cartoons that tackle difficult topics with humor and satire.
Notably, Dr. Ssentongo created the ‘Kampala Pothole Exhibition’, an innovative art installation that used humor and satire to draw attention to the poor state of Uganda’s roads. The exhibition featured life-sized potholes filled with concrete and painted to look like actual potholes, complete with witty slogans and satirical images. The exhibition became the agenda in several media, generated a national conversation on the state of Uganda’s roads and eventually, government and KCCA pledged and took action to fix all the potholes in the capital city within two weeks.
Besides using art as a form of expression, Dr. Ssentongo uses art to inform, educate and inspire people about important social issues. His works have featured in the Ugandan and oversees media including The Observer, The New Vision, The East African, and The Guardian.
In addition to his cartooning work, Dr Ssentongo is also an accomplished painter and sculptor. His art explores themes of identity, history, and spirituality, and has been exhibited in galleries and museums in Uganda and beyond.
By Atwenda Nancy. E
Makerere University, June 20, 2025 — The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) is holding its 2025 Graduate Symposium from June 19 – 21, 2025, bringing together scholars, mentors, and graduate students in a spirited exchange of ideas, research, and academic collaboration.
The symposium, hosted at Makerere University, has provided a dynamic platform for PhD students to present their ongoing research, while also strengthening ties with sister universities and celebrating the achievements of the CHUSS Graduate School in nurturing the next generation of scholars.
In his keynote address, Dr. Edgar Fred Nabutanyi welcomed participants and acknowledged the contributions of speakers from the previous day’s sessions, including Prof. Eric Awich Ochen (Deputy Principal, CHUSS), Dr. Peter Wekesa, and Dr. Zaid Sekito, among others. He emphasized that the symposium was not just a showcase of academic work, but a strategic platform to build partnerships and attract research funding.
“Generations must prepare for the next generation,” Dr. Nabutanyi noted, reflecting on life after PhD and the evolving role of Makerere University as a research-intensive institution. He praised department heads for their role in ensuring timely completion of graduate programmes and reiterated the college’s commitment to research excellence.
The event was officially opened by Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. In his remarks, Prof. Buyinza highlighted the importance of research that is impactful and relevant to society.
“Research is unimportant unless it is relevant,” he stated. “If one conducts research that doesn’t benefit society, it becomes a waste of resources.” He urged graduate students to approach their academic work with purpose, noting that Makerere is not a “PhD factory” but a hub for innovation, with over 300 active PhD students registered.
Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, Principal of CHUSS, underscored the College’s intentional approach to graduate success. “You are in the mind of an excellent mind,” she said, encouraging students to continue striving for excellence and leadership in their respective fields. The 2025 CHUSS Graduate Symposium served as both a celebration of academic progress and a call to action for scholars to engage in meaningful research that addresses the needs of communities and contributes to national and global development.
The Writer is an Intern in the Public Relations Office, Makerere University
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