Who is Paul Bukenya? Flash Uganda Media looks at his biography, age, wife, family, tribe, career, author, work and experience, relationship with Jotham Taremwa, Julius Mucunguzi, early life and education of the Deputy Spokesperson for the Electoral Commission of Uganda.
Paul Bukenya is a veteran communications professional who has served in Uganda’s public communications space for over twenty years, rising to senior roles within the Electoral Commission (EC).
He currently serves as the Principal Public Relations Officer and Deputy Spokesperson at the EC.
Early Life
Paul Bukenya was born on March 23, 1973, in the central Kampala suburb of Mengo, where he spent his entire childhood.
The fifth of eight children born to Charles Bukenya and Christine Akiiki Kabayaga, his early years were shaped by the social and political volatility of the time.
His parents split up in the last days of the 1979 war, and together with his siblings, he moved with his mother to a place on Lubaga Road, not far from the Lubiri army barracks and the Republic House, now called the Bulange building.
His mother became the family’s sole breadwinner and used to work at St Balikuddembe market, known as Owino, selling groceries like sugar, rice and flour. With the little income she got, she prioritized the children’s welfare, and paying for formal schooling became a challenge.
Education Background
Fortunately, Paul’s education, along with his siblings was sponsored by a charity organization, the Africa Foundation, which was started by Rev. Kefa Sempangi. This support allowed Bukenya to attend Mengo Mutesa II Memorial School for his early primary education.
Studies were conducted in Luganda from Primary one to three, and the only textbook was the Bible. Together with his siblings, they would go to Nakivubo Stadium to watch football as they waited for their mother so they could return home together.
He collected discarded newspapers left behind by spectators at Nakivubo Stadium after football matches and tried to read the ones in Luganda since he couldn’t read English that well, developing the love for reading in him.
Due to his good performance, he was transferred to Kyaggwe Road primary school near Kisekka market for his Primary four and five studies.
And due to his deteriorating behaviour, having been exposed to city life, he was taken to another school with Christian values. He ended up at Mengo Primary school where he finished his Primary six and seven studies. He also acquired very valuable leadership skills while here.
After completing his primary education at Mengo Primary School in 1987, he joined Mengo Senior Secondary School, where his talents in communication and the arts flourished.
He developed his musical skills by learning how to play the piano and perform live music and cover songs at school concerts. They formed a band named Super World with some of their classmates.
He was admitted to Makerere University in 1994, where he pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, religious studies and literature, majoring in the latter and graduating in 1997. Although he initially aspired to study Mass Communication, he missed the entry points by a narrow margin.
In addition to his undergraduate studies, Bukenya obtained a Master of Management Studies (MMS) in Public Administration from the Uganda Management Institute.
Education background summary
| Years | Institution | Status /Award |
| Uganda Management Institute | Master of Management Studies (MMS) in Public Administration | |
| 1994 – 1997 | Makerere University | BA in arts (political science, religious studies and literature) |
| 1988 – 1993 | Mengo Senior Secondary School | O’level & A’level certificates |
| 1987 | Mengo Primary School | Primary Leaving Examinations certificate |
Other academic accomplishments
Paul Bukenya is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (MCIPR).
He holds a Post-graduate Diploma in Information Systems Management and a Master’s degree in Theology which he later pursued, seeking to integrate his professional life with his spiritual convictions and community service.
Marriage and Family Life
Bukenya married his childhood friend from Mengo, Lydia Nakityo Mbabazi, in 2002. They had met back in 1983 when Bukenya and his brother discovered her father, the late Mr Bitwire’s dead body, as a victim of a rampant shooting on their way to school.
The couple has three children: two sons named Jordan and Jossiah, and a daughter named Joan. The family also raises other children in their home.
Career and Professional Work Experience
Before dedicating himself fully to public administration, Bukenya was deeply immersed in the arts. He developed skills as a musician and keyboard player, even interning at Peter Ssematimba‘s Dungeon Studios for training in musical and sound production. This earned him a spot in a musical play featuring Kato Lubwama and Mariam Ndagire.
All this time, he kept on writing poems and reading them on Radio Uganda every Sunday with hopes of transitioning to journalism whenever he got the opportunity.
When Lighthouse Television (LTV) emerged and planned to have a news bulletin and Media Plus, Bukenya was able to get the role of a cameraman. This aided him with the skills that later came in handy to join the EC.
His ascent within the Uganda Electoral Commission is notable, beginning in junior roles, including time spent as a cameraman and data processing on a temporary basis.
He officially joined the Electoral Commission in 1999 when he applied for a temporary position in the audio/visual unit, and by 2000, he was running the whole unit. Bukenya has been the Media and Public Relations Manager at the EC of Uganda from January 2000 to 2012.
He took on the role of acting spokesperson following the abrupt departure of his predecessor, Jotham Taremwa, in 2020. And he later stepped back to the deputy spokesperson position when Julius Mucunguzi was elected in April 2024.
In his role as the Deputy Spokesperson, he has been the public face of the commission during various electoral processes, including the harmonization of campaign programs and voter education.
Work experience background summary
| Years | Institution | Position |
| Present | Uganda Electoral Commission (EC) | Deputy Spokesperson |
| July 2020 – Apr 2024 | Uganda Electoral Commission (EC) | Acting Spokesperson |
| Jan 2000 – 2012 | Uganda Electoral Commission (EC) | Media and Public Relations Manager |
Other Career Accomplishments
Paul Bukenya taught Literature at some schools briefly after graduating while he searched for jobs to kickstart his career.
Outside of his professional career, Bukenya is a leader in his local Presbyterian Church, where he serves as part of the elders’ board and provides guidance to the pastoral team.
Achievements and Awards
Bukenya’s career is marked by his consistent role as a prominent and trusted voice for the Electoral Commission, earning him a reputation as “the voice of calm in tough political times”.
