PANEL DISCUSSION: Cartooning and Democracy in Times of Crisis: Lessons from Uganda, Belgium, and beyond

Cartooning and Democracy in Times of Crisis

Lessons from Uganda, Belgium, and Beyond

January 28, 2026 (Wednesday)
7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Library De Krook, Miriam Makebaplein 1, 9000 Ghent

This panel discussion explores how political cartooning critically engages with and intervenes in our political and democratic life, particularly in relation to national and global crises.

This evening brings together the experiences and perspectives of Ugandan political critic and artist Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, Belgian cartoonist ‘Lectrr’, conflict researcher Sara Weschler (Ghent University), and journalist Gie Goris (MO * – facilitator ). Together, they reflect on how cartoons can influence the way we think about politics, education, and democracy, both as a creative platform and as a force that shapes public debate.

The panel discussion will take place in English.

This event is co-organized by INSPIRA (Institutional, Socio-economic and Political Issues in Rural-urban Areas), Conflict Research Group, Ghent University’s Africa Platform, De Krook Library and Avansa Regio Ghent

Speakers:

• Gie Goris is a journalist, development educator, and author. He was editor of MO* , a quarterly magazine focused on global issues. He is the author of Uprising Land: The Struggle for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kashmir , a wide-ranging account of conflicts in South and Central Asia. He has also edited books on religion and violence, as well as on art, cultural diversity, and globalization. Goris has reported from 77 countries and conducted interviews with a wide range of writers, thinkers, politicians, and farmers alike.
• Lectrr is an editorial cartoonist for De Standaard, and publishes regularly in Le Monde, L’Internazionale and NRC. He’s a cartoonists rights activist working with Cartoonist Rights and Cartooning for Peace.
• Jimmy Spire Ssentongo , is a Ugandan academic, columnist, portraitist, author and self-taught cartoonist. He has worked for The Observer newspaper (Uganda) since 2006. He holds a doctorate in philosophy and, has served as Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Uganda Martyrs University. He also published a collection of his cartoons entitled Uncomfortable Laughter in 2020. In 2024 he was honored by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the 2024 Anti-Corruption Champions Awards for his work exposing corruption and advocating for rights in Uganda.
• Sara Weschler (Conflict Research Group, Ghent University) is a researcher focused on land conflict in northern Uganda. She has lived and worked in Uganda and has been involved with numerous social justice and human rights initiatives there, since 2007.

Practical: