Dr Anas Kaliisa was passionate about education

II should be done with my PhD programme in communication science at around this time next year. All thanks to the inspiration drawn 17 years ago from a two-hour meeting with, now the late Dr Abdul Noor Anas Kaliisa.  Back then, I and my closest friend Abdul Hamid Mpoza, worked for a Muslim news publication, The Weekly Message. Our head Abdul-Karim Kaliisa secured a rare appointment for an interview with his senior brother. We went to Kawempe to conduct it. We found Dr Kaliisa very jovial never mind we were interfacing for the first time.

Full of energy, he entertained us with jokes, drinks, fruits and later food as though it were a party of sorts.

Back at station, transcribing the interview that had been recorded in sound and ink, we had the most challenging editorial decision. As senior staff for a small publication, we had influenced a policy that limited interviews to only half a page. But here were two hours of too insightful words to drop even a single one. That required two full pages at minimum, which constituted breach of a policy.

One word which runs through our veins to this day is - education. As we ended the interview, Mpoza had asked Dr Kaliisa for his last word. He answered: Education, education, education.

“It’s everything I should say,” he said and breathed deeper. “I owe everything I call a possession to it…even this residence.” 

Dr Kaliisa explained that because of his education adventures, he had travelled to several countries around the world expense-free.

“I get everything paid for - air tickets, accommodation, meals and yes, gain more useful knowledge,” he said.

“Go for any education opportunity coming your way - be it for a certificate or post-doctoral,” he advised. 

Mpoza had just graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Makerere University, and I graduated with a diploma in Media Studies from Uganda Institute of Business and Media Studies (UIBMS).  From that commitment, Mpoza is today due to complete his PhD in Communication Studies at the Pakistani University of the Punjab. Thanks again to Dr Kaliisa’s inspiration.

There are two extra special attributes that are inescapable to observe from Dr Kaliisa’s bank of knowledge: Purpose to which he put it that was majorly to serve Allah—by urging His people towards good conduct - an obligation sourced from the Quran.

Being explanatory as opposed to argumentative. The explanatory tool requires one to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts and information clearly and accurately.

It demonstrates comprehension of a topic and attempts to inform rather than persuade or argue on a point. On the other hand, the ultimate aim of being argumentative is to persuade a given audience, failure of which causes misery.

I learnt later that while explanations enriches the field of knowledge, arguments hurt it - hurt the heart, the brain and eternally damage self-esteem. Whoever engages in arguments is a vulnerable victim.

It is not clear whether Dr Kaliisa learnt the skill of explanations by trait or by training, but that is what introduced and described him to many Ugandans. When he spoke on radio and TVs, thousands of ears and eyes captured and retained his message. I was a fan of his Ensi n’ebyayo’ on NBS TV on Sundays.

So when my house members first heard news of his passing on November 4, they hesitated to break it to me.

But the reality of the following Sunday that I attended NBS TV at 4pm without Dr Kaliisa on screen, remains the most emotional moment for me. It is a constant reminder that from Allah we all came and to Him is our return. May Allah be pleased with all our souls.  

Mr Shuaib-Swaib Kaggwa Nsereko works with Department of Mass Communication, Islamic University in Uganda. [email protected].