Late veteran journalist Shaka Ssali to be cremated Wednesday
The cremation ceremony in the city of Alexandria in the state of Virginia will take place 15 days after Ssali's death at the age of 71.
Shaka Ssali chose to be cremated, and half of his ashes scattered in River Potomac in Washington DC.
By Ivan Tsebeni
Journalists @New Vision
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On Wednesday (April 9), the remains of veteran Ugandan journalist Shaka Ssali will be cremated in the US, where he spent a substantial part of his illustrious career.
That was in his final wishes.
The cremation ceremony in the city of Alexandria in the state of Virginia will take place 15 days after Ssali's death at the age of 71.
In attendance will be some family members and close friends.
Sudhir Byaruhanga, who is also a journalist, spoke about his uncle's final wishes.
He said that being a principled man, Ssali chose to be cremated, and half of his ashes scattered in River Potomac in Washington DC. Then the remainder of the ashes should be flown back to his native Kabale in Uganda's southwest.
"As a family, we could not go against Ssali's Will. We shall only organize for a function after the Easter holiday to commemorate him."
Born in Kabale, Ssali fled into exile following the rise of Idi Amin in 1971 and pursued higher education in the US. 
Byaruhanga told New Vision that a few family members are already in the US to attend the cremation ceremony.
'Kabale kid'
Ssali's face and voice were synonymous with Voice of America's Straight Talk Africa for over two decades.
The revered veteran journalist and broadcaster died on March 25 in 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 drew on an illustrious and impactful life of a man that has been described in glowing terms as a "brother", "comrade" and "childhood friend".
He was also popularly called the "Kabale kid", in reference to his place of birth.
A public viewing and celebration of Ssali's life will be held from 5pm to 9pm at the Jefferson Funeral Chapel in Alexandria, where family, friends, and well-wishers will gather to honour a man whose voice became a staple of pan-African discourse.
'African journalism stalwart'
Born in Kabale, Ssali fled into exile following the rise of Idi Amin in 1971 and pursued higher education in the US.
He went on to earn a PhD in cross-cultural communication and joined Voice of America in 1986.
In 2000, he launched Straight Talk Africa, a weekly show that gave both African leaders and ordinary citizens a platform to discuss governance, democracy, and development issues.
He hosted it until his retirement in 2021.
Over the years, Ssali interviewed presidents, opposition figures, civil society leaders and activists from across the continent, earning widespread respect for his impartiality and depth.
The revered veteran journalist and broadcaster died on March 25 in Virginia.
Uganda's ICT and national guidance minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi described Ssali as “a towering figure in African journalism who brought dignity to televised dialogue and never lost his Ugandan humility”.
Cremation gaining acceptance?
Baryomunsi said the late journalist's decision to be cremated is rare but not unprecedented for Ugandans, especially those in the diaspora.
He said that while burial remains the dominant tradition in Uganda, cremation is slowly gaining ground as an alternative —particularly among urban families grappling with rising funeral costs, scarcity of land, and shifts in the spiritual outlook.
Baryomunsi said cremation is legal in Uganda and is offered at a handful of facilities, including the Kampala Capital City Authority crematorium at Bukasa Cemetery.
Still, the method remains controversial in many cultural and religious circles.
Ugandan customs typically tie a person’s identity to ancestral land and clan, making burial in a family graveyard a deeply symbolic act.
Nonetheless, some Christian denominations have expressed conditional acceptance of cremation, provided it reflects the deceased’s wishes and is treated with reverence.
“For Ssali, cremation appears to have been a personal and philosophical decision," said Baryomunsi.
"Rather than lie beneath one plot of land, his ash will symbolically return to the hills of Kabale and be scattered across parts of Africa, a continent he championed through the media."
According to the minister, Ssali's family has reportedly said this gesture honours his belief in African unity and reflects a final act of belonging to the people and places that shaped his career.
Ahead of Wednesday's ceremony in Alexandria, Ssali continues to be celebrated.
Many have remembered him as a voice of clarity during turbulent times, and a broadcaster who made Africans feel seen, heard, and respected.
His words, ideals, and spirit will remain embedded in the lives of those who tuned in to listen, learn, and speak up.