Makerere University scholar, cartoonist and political commentator Jim Spire Ssentongo has sparked national reflection after highlighting what he describes as an escalating culture of fear around poisoning in Uganda, a concern he says is now shaping everyday social and professional interactions.
In a public commentary, Ssentongo observed that suspicion of poisoning has become so widespread that it is influencing behaviour in media houses, workplaces and even among audiences following public figures online.
“Uganda’s fear of poisoning is an interesting one. People fear poison both from their own and from without,” he said.
He added that the fear has become so ingrained that even routine acts such as offering water during television interviews are now treated with caution, with some guests leaving drinks untouched in studio settings.
“So pervasive is the fear that even water served in media studios often remains untouched. Some media houses avoid serving anything, lest they make their guests uncomfortable,” he noted.
Ssentongo further described how audiences and followers often intervene in real time when they see public figures being served drinks on live broadcasts, sending warnings through messages urging them not to consume anything provided on set.
“Sometimes a fan sees you on a talkshow with water in front of you and they immediately text you: ‘Spire don’t drink that water please and don’t speak close to the microphone’,” he said.
He also pointed to a growing culture of distrust in workplaces and social gatherings, where individuals increasingly prefer to only consume food or drinks they have personally prepared or closely monitored, avoiding shared serving points altogether.
“Even at workplaces, many can’t eat what they haven’t served themselves from a common serving point or moved with,” he observed.
Ssentongo questioned what he termed a deepening psychological shift in society, asking whether the country is entering an era defined by suspicion and fear rather than trust and communal interaction.
“What are we really becoming! What is causing this environment?” he posed.
His remarks have triggered discussion online, with some users agreeing that heightened fear reflects broader anxieties in society, while others argue it may be linked to isolated high-profile incidents that have shaped public perception over time.
The commentary by Jim Spire Ssentongo adds to ongoing conversations about trust, public safety, and social cohesion in Uganda, where perceptions of risk continue to influence both private behaviour and public discourse.