'I got a surprise call from him': Tributes flow for veteran journalist Shaka Ssali
'Ndugu' Ssali, an admired veteran journalist and broadcaster who hailed from Uganda's western district of Kabale, died at the age of 71 in the US state of Virginia.
Fellow journalists in Uganda, Africa and beyond also paid glowing tribute to Ssali.
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For a man whose face and voice were synonymous with VOA's Straight Talk Africa for over two decades, it's little wonder there continues to be an outpouring of tributes for the late Shaka Ssali.
'Ndugu' Ssali, an admired veteran journalist and broadcaster who hailed from Uganda's western district of Kabale, died at the age of 71 in the US state of Virginia.
Every week, the longtime host of Straight Talk Africa engaged African leaders, analysts and citizens in critical discussions on democracy, governance and development.
Four years after his retirement from VOA (in 2021), the curtains have now drawn on an illustrious and impactful life of a man that has been described in glowing terms as a "brother", "comrade" and "childhood friend".
'Childhood friend'
Tributes having continued to flow for Ssali, who consistently voiced his optimism for the continent of his roots with his signature phrase: "Let's keep the African hope alive".
"Shaka was a childhood friend among other youth in Kabale. As young men, we would work in the gardens, attend meetings, read newspapers and discuss political issues," he said on social media platform X.
"Despite having stayed in America for many years, Mr Shaka Ssali remained rooted in his Kigezi and African culture. He is one of the finest human exports this country has ever had," wrote Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Ruhinda North County MP Thomas Tayebwa.
In her tribute, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among said Ssali "shared the African story and inspired the continent".
"May his remarkable spirit rest in peace and continue to inspire hope across Africa."
The prime minister of Buganda Kingdom (Katikkiro), Charles Peter Mayiga, paid tribute to "an accomplished journalist and proud son of Kigezi, and of Uganda".
"His wisdom, voice and dedication to his profession and to the truth, will inspire generations," added Mayiga.
'Hello, I am Shaka Ssali'
Fellow journalists in Uganda, Africa and beyond also paid glowing tribute to Ssali — some of them fond personal encounters and interactions with the veteran broadcaster himself.
One of such experiences has been shared by Vision Group journalist Joshua Kato, who has previously reported on the conflict in Somalia. He looks back at his very first interaction with Ssali 15 years ago.
Here goes:
"In July 2010, I received a call on my newly acquired smartphone from China. I had bought the extraordinarily loud phone from one of the makeshift shops in Mogadishu [Somalia's capital] where I had spent a week.
"To say the truth, there was actually nothing smart about this phone. For example, even if it was not on the phone's loudspeaker, you could hear what the caller was saying....metres away.
"So, this caller had a deep voice: "I am Shaka Sali" he boomed. Okay, I was already his fan, but then I had never expected a call from him. "Welcome back from the Morgue", he joked. Those days, we called Mogadishu 'the Morgue' because of the daily deaths.
"We spent several minutes discussing Somalia. He had his views about Uganda's involvement, etc. So at the end of the conversation, I asked him how he had managed to hold such a high job at one of the best media houses in the world.
"He simply boomed: "Be humble and the world will humble itself before your feet"."