Ugandans on X have raised more than Shs30 million in just 24 hours to help activist, academic and cartoonist Dr Jimmy Spire Ssentongo meet a financial penalty imposed by the High Court in a contempt of court case involving Kampala International University (KIU).
The fundraising campaign, spearheaded by activist Agartha Atuhaire, was officially scheduled to launch on Monday, August 10, but supporters began contributing over the weekend before the formal launch.
By Monday morning, Atuhaire announced that the campaign had already surpassed its Shs30 million target, with contributions reaching Shs30,254,500.
“So as we ‘launch officially’, I’m happy to inform you that we have already raised UGX 30,000,000 (30,254,500 to be exact) for @SpireJim,” Atuhaire said in an update on X.
She thanked contributors for their support but said the campaign would continue because the Shs30 million target does not cover costs related to the court application, which are yet to be determined.
The fundraising follows a High Court ruling arising from a dispute between Ssentongo and KIU over a social media post concerning tuition fees paid for two of his nephews.
In a post published on X on March 18, 2026, Ssentongo said his two nephews had paid Shs15.57 million in tuition fees after being admitted to KIU but later changed universities before commencing their studies.
He said efforts to secure a partial refund under the university’s policies had failed, prompting discussions with the university’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance about transferring the fees to two other students already enrolled at KIU.
According to Ssentongo, the transfer was agreed to but was never reflected in the university’s system, leaving the two students to continue being asked to pay fees.
KIU subsequently returned to court, arguing that Ssentongo’s publication violated an existing injunction restraining him from publishing information concerning the university that was considered injurious or unsubstantiated.
In a ruling dated June 18, 2026, the High Court ordered Ssentongo to pay a Shs10 million fine within 14 days, with imprisonment for three months in default.
The court also ordered him to pay KIU Shs20 million in punitive or exemplary damages for continued violation of the court order, as well as the costs of the application.
The combined Shs30 million in the fine and damages became the immediate target of the fundraising campaign.
Atuhaire said the amount raised so far demonstrates the level of support for Ssentongo, while urging well-wishers to continue contributing to meet additional legal costs that may arise.
The campaign has since attracted widespread attention on X, with supporters rallying around Ssentongo as he faces the financial consequences of the court ruling.
