Shaka Ssali’s Ashes to Be Scattered in the U.S. and Buried in Kabale

Veteran Ugandan-American journalist Shaka Ssali, known to many as the "Kabale Kid," has been cremated in the United States, as per his final wishes. This decision has sparked conversations in Uganda, where cremation is still rare and often debated.

Shaka Ssali passed away on March 25, 2025, in Virginia at the age of 71. His cremation took place on April 9 in Alexandria, Virginia, 15 days after his death. Family members and close friends gathered at Jefferson Funeral Chapel for a public viewing and to honor his life.

Although cremation is not a common practice among the Bakiga people of Kabale—who normally bury their loved ones following cultural rituals—his family respected his will. According to his nephew, journalist Sudhir Byaruhanga, Ssali was a principled man who made a clear choice for cremation.

Half of his ashes will be scattered in the River Potomac in Washington, D.C., while the remaining ashes will be flown back to his birthplace in Kabale, southwestern Uganda, for burial.

His cremation has started discussions among Ugandans, especially because it contrasts with local customs that tie identity to ancestral land and gravesites. Some people raised religious concerns about resurrection after cremation, while others supported the move, saying it cuts funeral costs that often leave families in debt.

Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, a government minister, said Ssali’s decision was not common, but not unheard of, especially for Ugandans in the diaspora. He mentioned that cremation is legal in Uganda and available in some places like Bukasa Cemetery in Kampala.

He added that Ssali’s choice may have been both personal and symbolic—meant to honor his belief in African unity and his life’s work across the continent.

Shaka Ssali was born in Kabale and fled into exile in 1971 after Idi Amin rose to power. He later earned a PhD in cross-cultural communication and joined Voice of America in 1986. In 2000, he launched Straight Talk Africa, a popular weekly program that tackled democracy, governance, and development. He hosted it until his retirement in 2021.

Throughout his journalism career, Ssali interviewed presidents, opposition leaders, activists, and citizens across Africa. Many remember him as a fair, courageous, and respectful voice who gave Africans a platform to speak.

Even after his passing, Ssali is being celebrated for choosing a symbolic farewell. His ashes, split between the U.S. and Uganda, reflect his deep connection to both places. His final act reminds people of his message—unity, dialogue, and pride in being African.