KAMPALA, Uganda — Allan Ssekamatte, a veteran sports journalist known for his vast knowledge of football and sharp analysis, died Wednesday evening following a long battle with heart complications. He was in his late 40s.
Ssekamatte passed away at Kiruddu Referral Hospital, according to family sources and colleagues.
A prominent columnist for the Daily Monitor and a former education editor at the publication, Ssekamatte became a household name in the early 2000s. He gained widespread recognition as a co-host of Scoreline on Monitor FM, now KFM. Alongside Mark Ssali, Ssekamatte became a fixture of Ugandan sports media ahead of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, earning a reputation for his unmatched ability to recall fixtures and scores from leagues around the world.
In addition to his long tenure at the Daily Monitor, Ssekamatte had a stint at PML Daily and recently contributed to The Kampala Report.
His death follows a public appeal for prayers from Ssali, who visited Ssekamatte at the hospital on Tuesday. Ssali described his longtime colleague as being in a dire medical state due to a chronic heart condition.
Throughout his career, Ssekamatte was regarded as a mentor who helped shape the standards of sports reporting in Uganda. His columns were frequently cited for their ability to provide context to local and international football administration.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. Ssekamatte is survived by his wife and family.
