People in Kigezi are sad about Shaka Ssali, who died on March 25, 2025. He was a famous news reporter for many years, and everyone respected him. His death shocked many people across the area. Leaders and other reporters talked about how great he lived his life.
Almost everybody in Uganda knew Shaka Ssali because he never feared reporting the hard truth. After working at places like BBC and UBC, he started new ways of reporting news. He helped make news reporting better in Uganda. Future reporters will learn from what he did for many years.
Big leaders from Kigezi sent kind words to his family. They praised how hard he worked and how he told stories about their area. Thomas Tayebwa, who helps run Parliament, called him a real son of Kigezi. He said losing Shaka hurts the area and the entire country. Many reporters he taught will keep his memory alive.
Former leader John Amama Mbabazi described Shaka as brave, smart, and strong. He said Shaka fought for African issues as a reporter. Ruhakana Rugunda shared that he grew up with Shaka in Kabale. As young boys, they worked in gardens, read newspapers, and talked about politics together. Rugunda said Shaka cared deeply about African problems.
Shaka talked about Africa on Voice of America programs, helped train African reporters, and connected Africa with other parts of the world. Rugunda believes Shaka inspired young people to study hard. His death should motivate youth to work harder and become excellent at what they do.
Elvis Twenda leads a group of people who studied at Kigezi College Butobere. He feels sad about Shaka, who also went to that school. Shaka hosted a popular TV show called Straight Talk Africa for more than 20 years. During school days at Siniya, Shaka played sports really well, running races and playing soccer on the left side.
His friends remember how much he loved books and read news to other students. Shaka always mentioned his school, even when talking to people from other countries. He worried about the school losing its good standards. Shaka died the same day the government started fixing buildings at his old school with 2.5 billion dollars.
Andrew Agaba runs Voice of Kigezi radio station. He praised Shaka for helping connect their local station with VOA through his program Straight Talk Africa. The local station plays this program for people in the area. Andrew said Shaka made him want to become a better reporter.
Justus Tindyebwa worked for UBC before. He became friends with Shaka during a school break in 1963. They often talked about world issues, like Ian Smith declaring independence in what became Zimbabwe. Justus said the school kicked Shaka out during Senior Two. Later, Shaka joined the army under President Obote.
The army sent him to Tanzania for training, where he became a lieutenant. Despite this change, they stayed friends for years. Justus described Shaka as someone driven by himself with lots of knowledge. Sam Arineitwe, a local leader in Kabale, said people from Kigezi felt proud of Shaka, who made their district famous worldwide.
Robert Kakuru leads an anti-corruption group. He admired how Shaka did his job properly and called him patriotic, independent, and honest in all his work. The family plans a special service to celebrate his life on April 1, 2025, at Kampala Serena Hotel. Leaders, reporters, and friends from everywhere will attend.
Shaka showed us why journalism matters for telling community stories and checking powerful people. New reporters will learn from him for years, and everyone who knew him will remember him fondly.
Almost everybody in Uganda knew Shaka Ssali because he never feared reporting the hard truth. After working at places like BBC and UBC, he started new ways of reporting news. He helped make news reporting better in Uganda. Future reporters will learn from what he did for many years.
Big leaders from Kigezi sent kind words to his family. They praised how hard he worked and how he told stories about their area. Thomas Tayebwa, who helps run Parliament, called him a real son of Kigezi. He said losing Shaka hurts the area and the entire country. Many reporters he taught will keep his memory alive.
Former leader John Amama Mbabazi described Shaka as brave, smart, and strong. He said Shaka fought for African issues as a reporter. Ruhakana Rugunda shared that he grew up with Shaka in Kabale. As young boys, they worked in gardens, read newspapers, and talked about politics together. Rugunda said Shaka cared deeply about African problems.
Shaka talked about Africa on Voice of America programs, helped train African reporters, and connected Africa with other parts of the world. Rugunda believes Shaka inspired young people to study hard. His death should motivate youth to work harder and become excellent at what they do.
Elvis Twenda leads a group of people who studied at Kigezi College Butobere. He feels sad about Shaka, who also went to that school. Shaka hosted a popular TV show called Straight Talk Africa for more than 20 years. During school days at Siniya, Shaka played sports really well, running races and playing soccer on the left side.
His friends remember how much he loved books and read news to other students. Shaka always mentioned his school, even when talking to people from other countries. He worried about the school losing its good standards. Shaka died the same day the government started fixing buildings at his old school with 2.5 billion dollars.
Andrew Agaba runs Voice of Kigezi radio station. He praised Shaka for helping connect their local station with VOA through his program Straight Talk Africa. The local station plays this program for people in the area. Andrew said Shaka made him want to become a better reporter.
Justus Tindyebwa worked for UBC before. He became friends with Shaka during a school break in 1963. They often talked about world issues, like Ian Smith declaring independence in what became Zimbabwe. Justus said the school kicked Shaka out during Senior Two. Later, Shaka joined the army under President Obote.
The army sent him to Tanzania for training, where he became a lieutenant. Despite this change, they stayed friends for years. Justus described Shaka as someone driven by himself with lots of knowledge. Sam Arineitwe, a local leader in Kabale, said people from Kigezi felt proud of Shaka, who made their district famous worldwide.
Robert Kakuru leads an anti-corruption group. He admired how Shaka did his job properly and called him patriotic, independent, and honest in all his work. The family plans a special service to celebrate his life on April 1, 2025, at Kampala Serena Hotel. Leaders, reporters, and friends from everywhere will attend.
Shaka showed us why journalism matters for telling community stories and checking powerful people. New reporters will learn from him for years, and everyone who knew him will remember him fondly.
