By Executive Editor

Last week, President Yoweri Museveni appointed events and marketing guru Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi as the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs.

Known for his signature orange shirt, not many take Balaam seriously.

Little do they know that Balaam is an MBA holder and a graduate of B.Com. (Marketing) from Makerere University. 

In this article, we profile the man from Bunyoro.

Balaam is the managing director of Balaam Group of Companies and Baitu Group Ltd. He is also the National Vice Chairman of the MK Movement in charge of Western Uganda.
Balaam is also the proprietor and owner of the Original Best Water Company, based in South Sudan, and Radio One in South Sudan, the first privately owned media house he started in 2009. He is also the proprietor and managing director of Radio 4 (Uganda), Radio 7 (Masindi), Radio 8 (Masaka), and Radio 8 (Elgon region), and the MTN Uganda distributor for the Kigezi subregion. 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.

Early life
Balaam was born on July 28, 1979 (44 years ago) to the late Engineer David Balaam Byenkya Akiiki of Kijura, Masindi District, and Gladesi Byenkya Abwooli of Kalisizo District in Central Buganda. His father, Mr. Davidson Balaam Byenkya Akiiki, passed away in 1991, when he was still a young boy.

Education
On February 21, 2023, Balaam was awarded an honorary doctorate in humanity from Zoe Life Theological College, USA, for changing and impacting the lives of Ugandans.

Cavendish university Cavendish university 
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Marketing/Marketing Management, and General Master of Business Administration (MBA) (2009–2010).

Makerere University 
BCOM (Marketing) (2004-2008)

Namasagali

He attended Namasagali School, St. John Bosco Senior Secondary School, and Original Progressive Senior Secondary School for A’level.