Balaam Barugahara

Ugandan politician (born 1979)

"DR"

Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi

State minister for gender, labour and social development

Incumbent

Assumed office
21 March 2024
President| Yoweri Museveni
Preceded by| Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi
Personal details
Born|  (1979-07-28) 28 July 1979 (age 45)
Mbarara Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda
Citizenship| Uganda
Political party| National Resistance Movement
Children|

* Benta karuhanga Abwooli
* Bevan Brennan Kamukama Akiiki
* Biden Kamusiime Amooti

Alma mater|

* A-Level Original Progressive SS Bweyogerere
* Makerere University, (Bachelor of Commerce)
* Cavendish University Uganda,Master of Business Administration)

Occupation| Politician, Investor, Events Organiser Farmer & Rancher
Known for| Politics
Minister of State for Youths and Children Affairs

Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi[1][2] commonly known as Balaam[3][4] (born 28 July 1979) is a Ugandan politician,[5] business man, music and events promoter.[6][7][8] He is the state minister for gender, labour, and social development in charge of children and youth affairs appointed by the President Yoweri Museveni.[9][10]

Balaam is also the CEO of Balaam group of companies, a conglomerate operating in Uganda and South Sudan[11][12][13] and his investments are mainly in the areas of entertainments, broadcasting, real estate, manufacturing, hotels, and resorts.[14][15][16][17]

## Early life and education

[edit]

Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi was born on 28 July 1979 to late Engineer David Balaam Byenkya Akiiki of Kijura, Masindi District and Gladesi Byenkya Abwooli of Kalisizo in Central Buganda.[18] His father, Davidson Balaam Byenkya Akiiki, died in 1991 when he was still a young boy.[19]

### Education

[edit]

He attended Namasagali School, St. John Bosco Senior Secondary School & Original Progressive Senior Secondary School for A'level.[20] He then enrolled at Makerere University for Bachelor of Commerce where he majored in Marketing, after, he did a Master of Business Administration (Marketing Option) at Cavendish University.[21]

## Business career

[edit]

Balaam with his PLU chairman & CDF Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba

Balaam is the proprietor and owner of: Original Best Water company based in South Sudan, Radio One in South Sudan, the first privately owned media house he started in 2009. He is also the proprietor and Media group owner of Radio4 (Uganda), Radio1 SS, Radio 7 (Masindi), Radio8 (Masaka) and Radio3 and Radio 9 (Elgon region) and a leading distributor of MTN products in Uganda.[22][23]

Balaam is a real estate developer with hotels in Kampala and South Sudan, including a 5 star hotel in Masindi, which was commissioned by President Yoweri Museveni in September 2022.[22]

## Political career

[edit]

President Museveni Yoweri kaguta visits Balaam’s home town for a rally in Masindi

On 21 March 2024, he was appointed by Yoweri Museveni as a state minister for gender, labor and social development in charge of children and youth affairs.[24]

## Personal life

[edit]

He is the fifth child of 14.[21] Balaam is father to three: Benta Karuhanga Abwooli, Bevan Brennan Kamukama Akiiki and Biden Kamusiime Amooti. His first son died of cancer in 2013.[25]

## Awards and Honors

[edit]

* On 21 February 2023, Balaam was awarded a honorary doctorate in humanity from Zoe Life Theological College, United States for changing and impacting the lives of Ugandans.[26]

## See also

[edit]

* Yoweri Museveni

## External links

[edit]

1. ^ "Balaam Graduates With a Doctorate in Humanities". www.howwe.ug. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
2. ^ Eye, The Cavendish (22 February 2023). "CUU Alumnus Awarded Honorary Doctorate for Impacting Lives". Cavendish University Uganda. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
3. ^ Jjingo, Ernest (13 January 2023). "Balaam on what it takes to organise a show". The Observer - Uganda. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
4. ^ Mabz, Chris (18 November 2019). "Helpless Music Promoter Balaam Reveals Why He Decided To Invest Over 20 Million US Dollars In South Sudan As He Closes In On Losing All His Properties To Greedy Citizens". Galaxy FM 100.2. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
5. ^ Asingwire, Mzee (22 March 2024). "Who is Balaam Barugahara, the new minister for children and youth affairs". Pulse Uganda. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
6. ^ "Balaam Barugahara Elected President Of Promoters Federation". ChimpReports. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
7. ^ "Events promoter Balaam gets PhD in theology from US college – Kampala Sun". 18 November 2023. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
8. ^ Kyama, Eric (3 April 2023). "Balaam commissions maiden MK movement chapter in London". Pulse Uganda. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
9. ^ "Events promoter Balaam Barugahara appointed Minister". NTV Uganda. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
10. ^ "Cabinet reshuffle: Kitutu, Ssempijja dropped as Barugahara, Mbadi appointed". New Vision. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
11. ^ Joseph, Lukwago (19 November 2019). "Full Details: How Balaam is set to lose shs18 Billion property to South Sudanese General". Ugandanz News Website. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
12. ^ BATTE, BAKER (20 November 2019). "How Sudanese generals grab Ugandan businesses". The Observer - Uganda. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
13. ^ "FROM SWEET BANANAS VENDOR TO BILLIONAIRE CONCERT PROMOTER - BALAAM BARUGAHARE". ELIX NEWS. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
14. ^ "Youth laud NRM for developing Bunyoro sub-region". New Vision. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
15. ^ Mugisha, Crispus (18 September 2022). "Uganda would be out of poverty if all youth copied Balaam- Museveni". Nile Post. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
16. ^ "Businessman Promoter Balaam Barugahara Reportedly Opens Up New Radio Station". blizz.co.ug. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
17. ^ Joseph, Lukwago (19 November 2019). "Full Details: How Balaam is set to lose shs18 Billion property to South Sudanese General » Ugandanz News". Ugandanz News. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
18. ^ Tushabe, Nasa (17 December 2020). "Balaam Barugahara: Biography, Age, Wife, Tribe and Family". pearlpost. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
19. ^ Media, Flash UG; Uganda, Flash (17 December 2020). "Balaam Barugahara: Biography, Age, Wife, Tribe and Family". Flash Uganda Media. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
20. ^ Kiwanuka, Ronald (6 July 2022). "10 Things You need to know about Balaam Barugahara". Hard Rock Media. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
21. ^ a b MWANJE, DAVID (8 November 2021). "Balaam Barugahara: That striped T-shirt simply dries faster". The Observer - Uganda. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
22. ^ a b "Museveni Speaks out on Muhoozi Birthday Celebrations". ChimpReports. 18 September 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
23. ^ Ug, Detective (3 December 2023). "Hidden Fortune: The Unsung Success Of Balaam Barugahara Emerging From The Shadows Into A Young Billionaire". DetectiveUg. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
24. ^ "LIST: Balaam appointed minister as Museveni reshuffles cabinet". Monitor. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
25. ^ Uganda, TheSpy (2 December 2023). "Here's What You Didn't Know About The One-T-Shirt-Man- Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi: Behind His Simplistic Humble Life Style, Lies A Budding Young Business Tycoon - TheSpy". Retrieved 6 December 2023.
26. ^ "Balaam Barugahara atikiddwa "Doctorate" mu kuyamba abanaku naddala abayimbi". Bukedde (in Nyankole). Retrieved 19 November 2023.