With two master and a PHD - Here is what YOU Need to know About Dr. Spire Ssentongo the cartoonist.

 

(Episode 1)

Not many people in this country has got privilege of making a name out of it, Dr Spire Ssentongo is well known for editorial and his eye catching cartoons.

Asked about his two Masters and PHD, he told us that non of  his academic qualifications features any where with the cartooning profession. In a one on one with our reporters, Dr. Ssentongo said that he never studied fine Art as many people would think outside there.

"In my academic background, you will not find any formal qualification in editorial cartooning because I am a professor of Philosophy. I did my first masters in Ethics and public management, the second on is in Education and sustainability and the Phd is also not connected to what I do now" said Dr. Ssentongo.   

Dr. Ssentongo further says that cartooning is just a gift and probably a hobby which he likes doing on a daily basis. 

"I would may be say that I am talented in doing this kind of work because out is not even out of formal training, I had a friend in Kenya called katete and my brother who I kept admiring and probably they inspired me to become a cartoonist" -He noted.

While pursuing his first degree in a seminary in Kenya, Dr ssentongo professionally started doing cartoons, in 2006, Dr. Ssentongo first worked with the observer news pepper. 

Dr. Ssentongo's Mather had a dream of his son becoming a priest. According to Dr. Ssentongo says that his mother took him to Bukalasa seminary but was expelled while in S.4. 

"I was not the only one who was expelled from Bukalasa seminary, It was prohibited for us to have any magazine or books with any phonography content. So the school was tipped off that we had a magazine by then called "chic" it used to be so popular and by seminary standards the Magazine was ponographic, what was close to tha was a woman in a nicker and a brah" - Dr Ssentongo.

The magazine was the reason Dr Ssentongo was expelled from Bukalasa.

Since his mother was so much intrested in seeing her mum become a  priest, Ssentongo was sent to his Uncle in Tanzania but since it wasn't his calling, he still never made it and dropped out of the  seminary after completing his masters.

What  made your cartoons popular?

Ssentongo responded with a smile saying that writing for the Observer pepper made him get in the limelight but then Social media made his work more popular.

"In 2015 I joined social media and started sharing my cartoons, I could always look at what is trending in the current affairs and then is draw cartoons that catch the attention of the public" - Dr. Ssentongo.

WORKING EXPERIENCE:

He joined Observer pepper in 2006 as an editorial cartoonist, he is also an assistant lecturer and associate professor at the Uganda martyrs University Nkonzi, he heads research at the school of post graduate studies & research.

Dr. Ssentongo has also lectured at the department of  Philosophy at Makerere University since 2011, he is married to Diana Nampiija with who they have three children. 

Story By: Musamali Arnold.

STORY TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT PUBLICATION..