Ugandan academic, cartoonist and activist Jimmy “Spire” Ssentongo wins EU Human Rights Defenders' Award 2024

Uganda Europe

BRUSSELS, 03 May 2024 / PRN Africa / -- Academic, cartoonist and activist Jimmy “Spire” Ssentongo has been named the winner of the EU Human Rights Defenders' Award 2024.

The award, which was presented during a ceremony on 2nd May at the residence of the Ambassador of Denmark in Kampala, is given annually by the European Union and Norway to recognise an outstanding contribution by a human rights defender in Uganda.

Mr. Ssentongo was chosen as the winner in recognition of his courageous work to expose corruption in public life in Uganda, most recently through the online campaign under the hashtag #UgandaParliamentExhibition. This also follows campaigns aimed at improving the state of public infrastructure in Kampala, health services and policing.

Mr. Ssentongo is also known for his social commentary through satirical cartoons published in The Observer newspaper and for his work as a leading academic in Makerere and Uganda Martyrs Universities. He is also a team member at the digital activism platform Agora Discourse.

Receiving the award, Mr. Ssentongo said: “This gesture means a lot…I am encouraged by the many people that have taken to social media to speak against all odds of what the streets have become…I thank everyone that has taken the risk of standing with us as we speak for those with little or no voice. Granting this award is an act of courage by the EU in Uganda.”

Presenting the award to Mr. Ssentongo, Ambassador of Denmark to Uganda Her Excellency Signe Winding Albjerg said "His online exhibitions depict courage and resilience and have opened up alternative options for active citizen engagement in calling government to action on issues that affect communities."

Once again, this year the EU and Norway received an overwhelming response to the call for nominations for the HRD Award, highlighting both the range of human rights issues but also the vibrancy of activism in the country. Mr. Ssentongo was chosen as the 2023 winner following a thorough review and shortlisting process involving a panel comprised of representatives of the EU Delegation, EU Member States and Norway.

Also shortlisted for this year’s award were Jesca Ruth Ataa, a women’s rights activist based in Kotido District and Doreen Namyalo-Kyazze, a human rights lawyer with Penal Reform International. Ms. Ataa was shortlisted for her outstanding contribution to women-led peacebuilding efforts in Karamoja. She also leads Nakere Rural Women Activists (NARWOA), an umbrella community-based network for women’s groups. Ms. Namyalo-Kyazze was nominated for her notable contributions to improving conditions in prisons, especially for women detainees. She has advanced pro-bono services to many indigent defendants and has also authored several papers on torture and the management of vulnerable prisoners.

Speaking before the award announcement, European Union Ambassador to Uganda His Excellency Jan Sadek said “These leading human rights defenders demonstrate that universal values have real meaning in everyday life, and that, when used as a framework for governing societies, they can transform people’s lives.”

Background

Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) are individuals who, individually or with others, act to promote and protect universally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms. These include civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights. The work of HRDs has a positive impact on a country’s development and is essential for encouraging the respect for human rights as recognised by international human rights standards and agreements. HRDs need to be protected from interference and reprisals while executing their work. The HRDs' rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly need to be safeguarded to enable them to defend others.

An individual eligible for the EU HRD Award is nominated by another individual or organisation. Human Rights organisations active in Uganda were invited to nominate candidates for the award. Candidates were assessed by a panel composed of human rights experts of different European Embassies and the EU Heads of Mission.

Past winners of the EU HRD Award include Mr Gerald Kankya (2012) of Twerwaneho Listeners Club, Mr Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala (2013) former Coordinator of Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ), the three joint winners (2014) Ms Gladys Canogura of Kitgum Women Peace Initiative, Assistant Commissioner of Police Christine Alalo, Head of the Uganda Police Family and Child Protection Unit, and Mr Mohammed Ndifuna, Director of the Human Rights Network Uganda, Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana (2015), Founder & Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) and Robert Sempala (2016) of the Human Rights Network of Journalists (HRNJ), Ms. Pamela Angwech (2017) Founder & Executive Director of the Gulu Women’s Economic Development & Globalization (GWED-G); two joint winners, Ms. Margaret Arach Orech, Founder and Director of the Uganda Landmine Survivors Association (ULSA) and Mr. Peter Sewakiryanga, a pastor with Kyampisi Childcare Ministries (KCM) in 2018; Mr William Amanzuru (2019), an environmental rights defender and founder of Friends of Zoka; Mr Aimé Moninga (2020), Founder of Men of Hope and an advocate for the rights of male survivors of sexual violence in conflict; and Ms. Rita Aciro (2021), Women’s Rights Defender and Executive Director of the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET); Ms. Primah Kwagalah (2022), Executive Director of the Women’s Pro-bono Initiative; Ms. Agather Atuhaire (2023), Team Leader at Agora Discourse.

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SOURCE European External Action