Balaam Barugahara

Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi commonly known as Balaam (born 28 July 1979) is a Ugandan Politician, business man, music and events promoter. He is the state minister for gender, labour, and social development in charge of children and youth affairs appointed by the President Yoweri Museveni.

Balaam is also the CEO of Balaam group of companies, a conglomerate operating in Uganda and South Sudan  and his investments are mainly in the areas of entertainments, broadcasting, real estate, manufacturing, hotels, and resorts.

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

Education
He attended Namasagali School, St. John Bosco Senior Secondary School & Original Progressive Senior Secondary School for A'level. 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.

Business career
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 Managing Director of Radio4 (Uganda), Radio 7 (Masindi), Radio8 (Masaka) and Radio8 (Elgon region) and the MTN Uganda distributor for Kigezi sub region.

Balaam is a Real Estate Developer with hotels in Kampala and South Sudan, including a 5 start Hotel in Masindi, which was commissioned by President Yoweri Museveni in September 2022.

Political career
He was appointed by Yoweri Museveni as a state minister for gender, labor and social development in charge of children and youth affairs on 21 March 2024.

Personal life
He has 13 siblings and he is the fifth child. His late father had 14 children. Balaam is father to Benta Karuhanga Abwooli, Biden Kamusiime Amooti, Brennan Kamukama Akiiki and Bennette Tumusiime Amooti. He lost his first son to cancer in 2013.

Awards and Honors

 * On February 21, 2023, Balaam was awarded a Honorary Doctorate in humanity from Zoe Life Theological College, USA for changing and impacting the lives of Ugandans.