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Dr. Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, a famous cartoonist and professor at Makerere University, is one of three people shortlisted for the EU Human Rights Defenders Award 2024. The European Union in Uganda, in collaboration with the Norwegian embassy, organizes this award. The winner will be announced during a ceremony on May 2.
The EU Human Rights Defenders Award has been running for 13 years. It honors individuals who have made exceptional contributions to advancing human rights in their communities within a year.
Dr. Ssentongo was nominated for his efforts in demanding accountability from the government through his social media platform, X. The EU stated that Dr. Ssentongo has used his platform effectively to bring attention to issues of accountability through online exhibitions. Despite facing praise for his work, Dr. Ssentongo has also received threats due to his exposure of wrongdoing in public life. However, he remains committed to sharing information and engaging in public discussions to enhance the quality of public service in Uganda.
Another nominee is Jesca Ruth Ataa, a human rights defender from Kotido, Karamoja. She leads Nakere Rural Women Activists (NARWOA), an organization that addresses humanitarian crises and tackles issues like political instability, domestic violence, and discrimination against women. NARWOA has impacted over 15,000 women and 250,000 children through its programs focused on sustainable income generation.
The third nominee, Doreen Kyazze, is a lawyer and human rights activist known for her advocacy against the death penalty. Over the past fourteen years, including her tenure at Penal Reform International, Kyazze has campaigned against the death penalty and worked to protect the rights of women in detention. She has been instrumental in drafting progressive laws and policies in Uganda and advocating for a model law on crime prevention in Africa.
The winner of the EU Human Rights Award will be announced at a ceremony hosted by the Danish embassy in Kampala on May 2. The EU commended all the finalists for their outstanding work in defending the rights of others.
source: The Ankole Times