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Our friend Risdel Kasasira embodied genuine humanity

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Margaret Vuchiri-Alumai

During the peak of the last election, I asked Risdel Kasasira if he could substitute one of the field reporters. He gave me a bemused look, placed his hands on his head, and said “Maggie, you want to finish me before my time...”

For a reporter who was never afraid of tough assignments, having faced high-risk encounters in Somalia and the Central Africa Republic, Risdel’s response was unexpected but based on sound judgment. To echo his words, Risdel’s life was tragically cut short “before his time” in a road accident on January 3 on the Lyantonde-Masaka Road. He was 45.At NMG-Uganda where we worked together for over 15 years, colleagues assigned Risdel various army ranks – from Lance Corporal to General – due to his close ties with the military. Despite his networks, Risdel remained humble to a fault, easy-going, and unassuming. He did not allow his connections to inflate his ego – a charitable man with deep social conscience and self-awareness. No wonder he avoided controversy.At his burial in Mbarara on January 5, Ms Charlotte Kamunaana eulogized her husband as a peaceful man who was honest and always quick to forgive. She spoke of his deep love and how much joy he brought to their family. Indeed, Risdel personified genuine humanity and common decency, traits that endeared him to many.His unpretentious nature defined Risdel’s approach to life, even during awkward moments. At a dinner we once attended, Risdel amusingly frowned at the overly decorative napkins. As he fumbled with one, he leaned over and whispered with a giggle that Alfred, my husband, had embarrassed both of us with his impeccable table etiquette. He characteristically laughed at himself, a habit that defined his relaxed demeanor. He didn’t sweat the small stuff, which gave him a sense of balance.One of Risdel’s notable journalistic legacies is his documentation of the UPDF’s Somalia mission, serialised by this publication for posterity. He sacrificed personal safety, endured sleepless nights, and dedicated weeks to investigating stories – a reminder that great journalists are defined by the quality of their journalism.Risdel distinguished himself as an impartial journalist who focused on pursuing the truth. During slow news seasons, we’d joke about him hacking the army server for an exclusive because he had a rich databank of security sources. Our industry will miss his resourcefulness.  At times, Risdel tested the patience of his supervisors by disappearing on critical days, and it earned him a spot on former Monitor news editor Alex Atuhaire’s list of ‘Visiting Reporters’, a moniker Risdel embraced with much amusement. But Risdel often went beyond his role, regularly assisting editors and mentoring younger colleagues.Outside the newsroom, Risdel was a dependable friend who was thoughtful and protective. At a gathering with friends at my home, he pulled me aside and revealed information he would not freely share within the office environment. After he was laid off, we joked about how his picture wasn’t approved to appear in the newspaper’s ‘Survivors Edition’, our reference to those who survived the company’s periodic restructuring.Many of us will remember Risdel for his calming presence, a rare attribute in the high-pressure Monitor newsroom once dubbed Mogadishu. He had the unusual ability to ease the deadline pressures. He was also witty and subtly cheeky.  I once asked him about Charlotte and he glanced at me – heavily pregnant at the time – and laughed, saying: “Charlotte is also like you by the way”. It was his unconventional way of announcing they were expecting.Our last conversation was on December 17, 2024, about a case involving his close friend and our former colleague, Richard Wanambwa. Risdel was deeply concerned about Richard and his family.Margaret Vuchiri-Alumai is a journalist. [email protected]