As Uganda and the African journalism community mourn the loss of the veteran journalist Shaka Ssali, his passing has sparked both emotional reflection and cultural debate, particularly regarding his final wishes.
Shaka Ssali, the founder and long-time host of Straight Talk Africa on Voice of America, passed away on March 25, 2025. Known for his sharp intellect, humility, and dedication to telling Africa’s stories with dignity, he made a lasting impact on global media.
Even after his death, Shaka Ssali’s legacy continues to provoke conversation—this time about the intersection of culture, identity, and modernity.
Affectionately known as “the Kabale Kid” for his pride in his Bakiga heritage, Ssali is set to be cremated on April 9, 2025, in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. This decision, however, has sparked a wave of concern among his relatives and people from his home community in Kabale District, Uganda.
For the Bakiga people, traditional burial practices are central to their cultural identity. Cremation, however, is a foreign and uncomfortable concept for many in the community.
“We are deeply troubled by the fact that there will be no burial ceremony, as is customary in our culture. This decision to cremate has left us confused and in pain. It’s hard for us as a community.” said Mr. Alex Musherure, the head of the Batimbo clan to which Shaka Ssali belonged.
Although the cremation will be a private event, attended by a select group of friends and family in the United States, the family is also working on plans to honor Ssali’s memory in Uganda.
His younger sister, Ms. Hellen Mushakamba, shared that they are coordinating with former Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda to organize a memorial service at a later date.
“We haven’t made any burial plans yet, but I am in contact with Dr. Rugunda about a memorial service that will be announced soon,” she confirmed.
For many who knew Ssali personally, the news of cremation came as a shock, yet it was met with both sadness and warm memories.
Mr. Claude Zaribugyire, a childhood friend, reminisced about their time growing up in Mwanjari, a suburb of Kabale Municipality. He recalled how, during the turbulent years of Idi Amin’s regime, Shaka Ssali would secretly ask for newspapers while in hiding, driven by a desire to stay informed, even at great personal risk.
“Even after he left the country, we kept in touch through his younger brother. He later told us he had arrived safely in the U.S. and was pursuing higher education.That journey ultimately led Ssali to earn a PhD in cross-cultural communication and begin his long career at Voice of America in 1986.”,Zaribugyire said
Peter Menex Ssebasaza, another close friend, shared similar sentiments.
“He loved our homeland deeply. That’s why, even in America, he always introduced himself proudly as ‘the Kabale Kid’,” he said.
This pride in his roots, however, makes the decision to forgo a traditional burial especially difficult for some.
It is believed that Shaka Ssali consciously chose not to repatriate his body, perhaps to spare his family the emotional and logistical difficulties of transporting his remains across continents.
For a man who spent most of his life in the diaspora, this decision may represent a balancing act between his two worldshis ancestral home in Uganda and his adopted country in the U.S.
Nonetheless, for many in Kabale and across Uganda, his passing has sparked a broader conversation about the preservation of cultural traditions in an increasingly globalized world.
“He was ours, even when he lived abroad. Now, we feel we’ve lost not just our son but also the rituals that bind us to him.”Mr. Musherure said.
As preparations for the memorial service continue, many hope it will provide an opportunity for collective mourning, healing, and the celebration of a life that transcended borders. Although Shaka Ssali’s death reflects a departure from traditional practices, his legacy anchored in truth-telling, cultural pride, and a deep connection to Africa remains both local and global.
From the hills of Kabale to the studios of Washington, D.C., his voice lives on: one of clarity, courage, and unwavering conviction.
