When Shaka Ssali decided to moderate Uganda’s presidential debate in February 2016 during the peak of a heated general election, his reputation was almost tarnished. The election saw incumbent President Yoweri Museveni facing off against seven other candidates, such as his previous supporters Dr. Kizza Besigye and Amama Mbabazi. Critics contended that Ssali failed to pose the necessary challenging questions to the long-standing president.

However, this moment also allowed him and his supporters to rejoice over yet another achievement added to their cap: “It was a matter of honor for Shaka Ssali to be appointed as a moderator for Uganda’s presidential debate prior to the nation’s general elections,” stated Sonya Laurence Green, who serves as a senior editor at Voice of America, at that juncture.

Prior to the debate, pending problems jeopardized his involvement, ultimately resulting in his last-minute withdrawal just hours beforehand.

President Museveni, who had formerly dismissed the discussion as immature and did not participate in the initial session in January 2016, agreed to join this time around. However, his attendance hinged on two conditions: Ssali should not be one of the moderators; and if he were a moderator, then under no circumstances should he pose any questions to the President.

The scene was prepared for the highly anticipated debate organized by the Elders’ Forum, led by Uganda’s ex-principal judge of the High Court, James Ogoola. Ssali felt discontented about this arrangement. “I felt confined within a box; despite my efforts to escape, there wasn’t much room,” he recounted regarding the discussion co-moderated alongside Joel Kibazo and Suzie Muwanga. He further explained, “It had been communicated to me that the President did not appreciate my line of questioning.”

Two months following the debate, when speaking with a journalist, Ssali mentioned that Justice Ogoola had convinced him to participate by encouraging him to consider the broader perspective of Uganda’s advancing democratic process.

The importance of this debate could not be overstated, as Museveni and Besigye were set to appear together in the same space, addressing the same crowd for the first time since their rift in 1999. That’s when Besigye had submitted a document alleging that Museveni was veering away from proper leadership.

Ssali’s offense was providing refuge to Besigye in 2001 after he fled into exile during the intense presidential election campaign where Museveni encountered his most formidable opponent: his one-time bush war comrade and personal physician.

Ssali brought attention to Besigye’s cause globally, which likely did not sit well with the powers-that-be in Kampala even after 16 years.

Ssali was intended to moderate alongside Kibazo, but Muwanga was brought in to ‘balance’ him during the discussion.

This incident continues to divide Ugandans to this day.

On Thursday afternoon, Shaka Ssali passed away in the U.S., where he had been residing since his retirement from television four years prior. According to his family, he had been struggling with an illness for several months and had recently gone through surgery. He was 71 years old.

His tenure as a broadcaster with the Voice of America lasted over twenty years, though he had worked in journalism for an even greater duration. The ‘Straight-Talk Africa’ show garnered him a dedicated audience, and his well-known catchphrase, “keep the hope alive,” resonated widely. However, this did not extend to discussions about Ugandan politics.

In February 2018, Ssali welcomed yet another adversary of President Museveni, the artist-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, who had recently won a seat in Parliament representing Kyadondo East, located close to Kampala.

Three years later, he ran against Museveni in the elections and has since been a persistent critic of Museveni.

School dropout Ssalim, originally named Mushakamba but later referred to as Shaka, looked up to the renowned Zulu leader Shaka Zulu. Born in Kabale, which is located in southwest Uganda approximately 400 kilometers away from Kampalacity, he attended primary school in his hometown.

In the 1960s, he left secondary school and joined the Ugandan military as a paratrooper. He eventually escaped from Uganda in 1976 to evade the rule of ex-President Idi Amin.

Later, he pursued further studies. Upon his passing, he held a doctoral degree in cross-cultural communication from UCLA.

The individual who consistently opened his program with “I’m deeply honored and greatly humbled” retired from the Voice of America in May 2021 following a tenure of 29 years. For 20 of those years, he served as the creator, presenter, and subsequently, the managing editor of Straight Talk Africa.

Ssali, having acquired U.S. citizenship, enjoyed referring to himself as the Kabale kid. He was previously a Ford Foundation Fellow and had been honored with multiple accolades, such as the United Nations Peacekeeping Special Achievement Award in International Journalism and VOA’s Best Journalist Award.

How Julius Mucunguzi Eulogized Him
The Election Commission of Uganda’s spokesperson, Julius Mucunguzi, expressed deep admiration for Ssali: “He profoundly motivated us during a visit to our journalism course at Makerere University back in 1997. He encouraged everyone present to maintain unwavering hope, sharing insights based on personal experiences; stories like being expelled from school yet eventually achieving a doctorate degree before becoming part of an esteemed international broadcaster such as Voice of America,” noted Mucunguzi.
“Shaka Ssali, thank you for instilling within us the resolve to never lose sight of optimism. I had the privilege of featuring on your first episode of ‘Straight Talk Africa’ way back in August 2000—a moment which opened numerous pathways filled with possibilities impacting my life and those around me positively.”
Ssali received recognition in 2021 through selection by the Ugandan expatriates’ group in Canada for their annual Lifetime Achievement award. This accolade placed him alongside notable compatriots including Winnie Byanyima—head of UNAIDS—and aerospace engineer Kwatsi Alibaruho—the African-American overseer of space missions at NASA—who also achieved worldwide acclaim.

Uganda’s ex-Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda referred to the passing away of his long-time companion as utterly surprising. “Shaka was one of the youths I grew up with in Kabale. In our younger days, we used to labor together in farms, participate in gatherings, peruse through newspapers, and debate about politics,” he stated.

Thomas Tayebwa, Uganda’s deputy speaker of Parliament, mentioned that even though Ssali lived in the United States for an extended period, he maintained strong ties with his roots in Kigezi and Africa. “He stands as one of our nation’s most distinguished emissaries,” Tayebwa stated. “I extend my deepest sympathies to his loved ones, the Banyakigezi community, the entire country, and all people across the continent.”

Alan Kasujja, the chief presenter at BBC News, mentions that he didn’t get an opportunity to meet Ssali. However, he expresses that he wishes he could have thanked him for motivating him to broaden his horizons beyond Uganda and Africa.

Ssali has been portrayed as the individual who motivated countless Africans, embodying the pinnacle of African excellence and transforming into an authentic African icon—unique, self-assured, and dedicated to sharing the African narrative with enthusiasm and pride.

Ssali is leaves behind a son whom he lovingly referred to as Astronaut. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.
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