Exiled author and activist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija has celebrated scholar and political analyst Jim Spire Ssentongo on his birthday, praising his use of cartoons and academic work to challenge those in positions of power.
In a message shared on Saturday, August 15, Kakwenza described Ssentongo as a cartoonist whose work has become a source of discomfort for corrupt officials and other figures he accused of wrongdoing within government.
“To Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, the cartoonist whose pen has become an occupational hazard for the murderers, thieves and assorted scoundrels littered across our government offices,” Kakwenza wrote.
He also recognised Ssentongo's contribution to academia, describing him as a scholar whose influence continues through the people he has taught.
Kakwenza used the occasion to reflect on the role of art, literature and political commentary in challenging authoritarian governments. He argued that governments facing criticism often rely on propaganda to shape how citizens perceive those in power.
“A despot can survive a mutiny, can survive sanctions, stolen elections and even the economics he has personally murdered. What he struggles to survive is an accurate description of himself,” he said.
According to Kakwenza, propaganda becomes particularly important to governments seeking to control public perception because it can obscure failures and protect political leaders from scrutiny.
He further compared the power of written work and cartoons to conventional forms of political resistance, arguing that creative expression can preserve criticism for future generations.
“A bullet may silence us, a prison may remove us from the street, but a book can describe our tormentors for generations,” Kakwenza said.
He added that political cartoons could similarly expose what he described as the contradictions and excesses of those in authority.
Ssentongo, a scholar and political commentator, is widely known for his satirical cartoons and commentary on Uganda's political and social affairs.
His work has frequently addressed governance, corruption, accountability and the conduct of political leaders.
Kakwenza said Ssentongo's approach demonstrates how satire can challenge political authority without relying solely on conventional opposition politics.
“You do not arrest the thieves, you draw them. You do not imprison the absurd, you describe it,” he wrote.
He concluded his message by wishing Ssentongo a happy birthday and expressing pride in their relationship.
“Happy birthday, Professor Jimmy Spire Ssentongo. I am glad to call you a brother and an acquaintance in the honourable occupation of giving trouble to our kleptocratic gerontocracy,” Kakwenza said.