The Unforgettable Allan Ssekamatte: A Tribute from Aldrine Nsubuga

The sports journalism fraternity is mourning the loss of a giant, Allan Ssekamatte, who has left an indelible mark on the industry. In this heartfelt tribute, Aldrine Nsubuga shares his personal experiences and memories of the fallen journalist, highlighting his passion, professionalism and unwavering commitment to sports journalism.

“The shock of his passing has shaken me this morning. A peer, buddy, a mate. His outward appearance was priestly, his manner British, his style brutal. He spoke softly but sharply and unequivocally. An unbending sports critic whose obstinacy and independence of mind came off as arrogance and impudence, which he was as a person. Journalism was his trade and profession, but sports was his passion.

A distinguished sports journalist whose knowledge and love for all sports cut him alongside Mark Ssali – both of the Nations Media Group fame – as models of sports journalism excellence. As my peer and contemporary, we broke into the sports media space round about the same time in the mid-1990s. He, the professional who studied journalism and was trained professionally with a sports bias, and yours truly, the self-made out of talent and passion but with a bias to football.

Our friendship took root when I learnt early that we were both ardent KCCA FC fans, while he was also a vocal Chelsea Football Club fan. Our banter never stopped. But hold it, as a writer, I know a good writer when I see one and Allan was as prolific as they come. His English; both oral and written, was queen’s English. He was full of superlatives, awash with flair and glaringly short on basic.

As a Budonian (he was Namilyango), we always argued over which school was the more accomplished and whose products were better. Our path together didn’t stop at writing, critiquing, activism and outspokenness. We were both selected, alongside Mark Ssali to be taken to England for professional training in TV football commentary in 2007 by GTV after identifying our talent in broadcast.

Our trio returned to Uganda to pioneer live football commentary and studio punditry on pay television. The chemistry we developed was to last for a lifetime especially as we practically duplicated each other as passionate football writers/columnists, pundits, critics, commentators. My style is more similar to Allan than Mark, who is softer, calmer, accommodative and safe to say, usually neutral. Without being scripted, Allan and I; incisive, provocative, dismissive, divisive, unapologetic, controversial. No holds barred. The quintessential examples of critiques. That was our style. Still is, for me.

As a person, Allan split opinion. A man who always held his own, stuck to his beliefs and never allowed to be a push over. He struggled with heart issues for some years now, which is why he was operating under the radar. His love for Chelsea is the reason why once in a while he sought me out for banter. If there’s one thing I admired about him in this over-populated world of sports opinionists, it was his skill at historic memory recall and statistics. Bring on a sports debate and Allan would beat you hands down; if you were not Joseph Kabuleta, Mark or yours truly.

Uganda is not producing his kind anymore and that is the real absurdity of his demise. So long, my friend. Am glad we did this together.

RIP Allan Ssekamatte 🌔”