Court Gags Academic and Cartoonist Jimmy Spire Ssentongo in Legal Battle with Kampala International University
KAMPALA – The High Court in Kampala has issued an interim injunction against prominent academic, cartoonist, and social critic Dr. Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, barring him from publishing content deemed damaging to the reputation of Kampala International University (KIU).
The order, delivered on November 6, 2025, by His Worship Kintu Simon Zirintusa, arises from a defamation lawsuit (Civil Suit No. 0413 of 2025) filed by the university against Dr. Ssentongo.
According to the court documents, the interim injunction restrains Dr. Ssentongo and “any person acting on his instruction from continuing to post, publish, distribute and/or circulate in the print and/or social media any new and fresh information and messages injurious and/or damaging to the name and reputation” of KIU.
The court proceedings occurred in the presence of the university’s lawyers but in the absence of Dr. Ssentongo or his legal representation. The order is set to remain in effect until December 16, 2025, when a ruling on a main application for a temporary injunction is scheduled to be delivered.
Dr. Ssentongo responded to the injunction publicly on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), expressing surprise at the speed of the legal action and revealing that it was secured without him being served or heard.
“This is going to be a really interesting one, and maybe it’s what we needed – in full light!” he wrote. “At supersonic speed, I see that an interim court injunction AGAINST MY SPEECH has already been secured, without serving or hearing me!”
In his post, which included a sarcastically altered version of the court header reading “HIGH CORPSE,” Dr. Ssentongo called on the public to send him more evidence, stating, “Together we can defend our freedoms and space to speak for those without voice.”
The lawsuit and subsequent gag order appear to be the university’s legal escalation against Dr. Ssentongo’s ongoing online campaign. The academic has used his platform to amplify long-standing student and staff grievances against KIU, including allegations of exploitation, imposition of late payment fines, unremitted NSSF contributions, and issues of unaccredited courses.
The case has drawn attention from legal experts and free speech advocates, who view it as a significant test case for the limits of public criticism and academic freedom in Uganda, pitting an individual’s right to speak out against an institution’s right to protect its reputation.
All eyes will now be on the High Court’s decision come December 16, which will determine whether the interim silence imposed on Dr. Ssentongo becomes a more permanent feature of this legal battle.
About The Author
