Early Life and Biography
Professor Benon C. Basheka was born from Kabale district (but falls under Rukiga District) to Steven Basheka of Karorwa-Bukinda and Margaret K Basheka of Rwesasi-Kyobugombe-Maziba Sub County. He is the 7th born in a family of twelve members (six females and six males). He was the first in the family to attain University Education only to be followed by his two brothers in their order of birth. The three sons (as they follow each other-Benon, Livingstone and George) are the only ones with a degree education in their family.
Basheka goes by the date of birth of 3rd July 1973 but his father’s diary ‘official diary’ was discovered after making this error on the first records. This authentic copy indicates his correct date of birth as Saturday 5th July 1972 (at midnight). His early social life is difficult to ink down but what can be said is that he had poor dancing skills; but once in a while could participate in limited sessions of ‘zero-distance dance’. He was found of grazing his father’s goats along with his contemporaries and fully engaged in typical rural games and adventures especially of a set up like that of Kigezi region. He participated in riding ‘traditional bicycles’ slopping on hills and he was equally involved in playing football made of banana materials as well as other village games. He was never good at most social activities like parties though he once in a while could attend particular village events.
Professor Basheka is married to Justine Katureebe of Nyarushanje-Kiganda in Rukungiri District. They are blessed with two children. Elizabeth Kansiime Basheka and Elijah Tayebwa Ben Basheka. Elizabeth Was born in 1999 while Elijah was born in 2009. They are also parents to Joshua Muhanguzi an adopted son who was born in 2007 to the late Justine’s sister Generous. Justine tends to the family farm and does her own small business ventures but she is educated with a Master’s Degree in Procurement and supply chain management (Uganda Management Institute), a Postgraduate Diploma in Procurement (Uganda Management Institute, A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences (Makerere University) and a Diploma in Business studies (Nakawa). Elizabeth Basheka is now a second-year student undertaking a Bachelor of Commerce at the Sober Business School, St. Mary’s University-Halifax Canada. She specialises in Accounting. Elijah and Joshua are Grade 4 and 6 respectively at Vine International Christian Academy in Uganda.
Professor Basheka (as he is now called) was born from a typical poor rural set up, and was educated from Karorwa and Nyabirerema Primary Schools both located in Bukinda Sub-county of the present day Rukiga District, formerly of Kabale District in Kigyezi region; South Western Uganda. He was brought up in a religious family background and his father (Steven Basheka) was a farmer, church leader and political leader. While his father was uneducated in the ordinary sense of education as we know it today, he managed to learn how to write his name and could engage in some writing though he never spoke English. His own version suggests that he went to Kakatunda-Nyabirerema and convinced his tutor Fabian Tigakanya to accept him in class; having been rejected in Karorwa church school due to old age. He spent two days in the school and was chased after the head teacher-one Celestino Bujara reprimanded the teacher for having allowed such an old student. Determined to succeed in his education enterprise, he trekked to Bugarama church school. He had here met his friend called Kateshumba of a similar age and both were chased from school. His friend was from Kyobugombe and it would appear it could be this friend who connected him to get a wife in that village. He later found his way to Kizinga church school but fate had it that he would not meet admission criteria due to the age factor.
His friend travelled to Masaka in Mpugwe for some labour and he found there were opportunities of studying even at old age. He informed my father (this must have been on a return back home as the means of communication then were not of the current era). Basheka (Sr) now travelled to Masaka alongside his friend and they enrolled in a private school which had seven classes but with only two teachers. They were working on coffee gardens and would only be given few hours to teach them how to read and write. This is how he learnt to write. He tells a story that he was also able to get an opportunity to get baptised from Kaako Church of Uganda in Masaka. Challenged to this great length in pursuit of education, developed a strong passion for education and decided he had to educate his children only for a number of them to disappoint him in preference for marriage.
Basheka (Sr) appeared to have gone through a difficult journey before he learnt how to write his name. Here is a man who took himself to school but he was unceremoniously chased from several schools. He was born and his father died immediately when he was one week old. He was therefore raised by her mother (called Elizabeth) and it is his love for his mother that when my daughter was born, his grandfather dictated she had to be given that name. He estimates to have been born around 1933 when his contemporaries compare the events under which he was born. Basheka (Sr) has always been known for his leadership acumen with key qualities of time management, consultative decision making, and firmness to stand for the truth. He has a general dislike for corruption and favouritism while making decisions. He detests corruption in all its forms and dimensions and has always brought up his children to work hard and avoid abuse of resources whenever they have responsibilities bestowed on them. He believes in fairness and justice for the marginalised.
Basheka (Sr) served as the village leader and later as LC-1 chairperson for uninterrupted 25 five years. He served equally as a head of ‘laity’ for the local church for more than 20 years and he was the person who ensured the church bought some land in its neighborhood. In his political leadership, even when he on his own wish formally indicated a need to retire from active leadership, the village only agreed to this condition if he accepted to remain the Vice Chairperson. This appears to have been intended to ensure succession planning and mentor-ship but also to enable the community benefit from his servant leadership. He to date solves most of the community disputes and appears to be in charge of the village stamp due to his incorruptible character. Professor Basheka derives a number of traits from his father. He generally works beyond self and prioritize the collective good of organizations and society.