Who is Sam Mangusho Cheptoris? Flash Uganda Media looks at his biography, age, wife, family, tribe, Kapchorwa Municipality, Kapchorwa Standard Academy, Cheminy Standard Academy, early life and education of the current Minister for Water and Environment in Uganda.
Sam Mangusho Cheptoris is a Ugandan politician, businessman and educationist. Currently, he serves as both the Minister for Water and Environment in the Ugandan Cabinet and the Member of Parliament for Kapchorwa Municipality.
Until now, he has held the same position in the Cabinet after being appointed on June 6, 2016.
Early life and Education
Sam Mangusho Cheptoris was born on December 12, 1949, in the present-day Kapchorwa District. He is the younger brother of the former minister of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries in the 1987 National Resistance Council, Prof Sheme Chemangey Masaba.
Not much is known about Sam Cheptoris’ childhood except that he had to overcome numerous obstacles growing up facing the many challenges a typical African child faced growing up in a rural area in pre-independence Uganda.
He completed his secondary school studies at Nabumali High School before enrolling in the University of Nairobi, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree.
He continued his education at Makerere University, where he eventually earned both a Master of Education and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education.
Career and professional work experience
Sam Cheptoris began teaching English and literature at Sebei College in Tegeres in 1975, upon completion of his undergraduate studies in Nairobi.
He held the position of deputy head teacher at the same school between 1978 and 1981. He briefly served as the headmaster at Comboni College and Gamatui Girls School before returning to Sebei College in 1998. In 2009, he gave up teaching.
On the National Resistance Movement party ticket, Sam Cheptoris ran for office in the Kapchorwa District LC5 election in 2011 and won. Having completed a single five-year term as LC5, he then competed for and won the seat of the newly created Kapchorwa Municipality constituency in the 2016 general elections.
He was named Cabinet Minister for Water and Environment on June 6, 2016.
He set out to create an irrigation system in the constituency to increase agricultural production, to help establish a university in the area, to help revive the “Elgon Cooperative Union,” and to create a water and sewerage system in Kapchorwa Municipality as some of his first priorities as a member of parliament.
Sam Cheptoris, in his capacity as the minister of water and the environment, urged lawmakers to support his ministry’s effort to reintroduce a complete ban on plastic bags.
According to Cheptoris, attempts were made to completely outlaw polythene throughout the nation, but the 10th Parliament passed legislation outlawing only polythene bags smaller than 30 microns.
Following a recommendation from the Committee on Natural Resources, the National Environment Bill, 2017 was approved by Parliament in 2018, outlawing polythene bags smaller than 30 microns.
On Wednesday, August 3, 2022, when he spoke before the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Cheptoris stated that he intends to bring back a motion calling for the complete ban of polythene bags and their replacement with alternative environmentally friendly materials.
Achievements and awards
Today, Sam Mangusho Cheptoris is the proprietor of two secondary schools: Kapchorwa Standard Academy in the Kapchorwa District and Cheminy Standard Academy in the nearby Kween District.
In an effort to increase his income while still a teacher, he ventured into business beginning by trading in lumber.
Eucalyptus trees in his sub-county died, but he also planted a lot of them, extending the drive to his students whom he always encouraged to plant trees even when he was posted to Sebei College.
His star was shining at Sebei College. He gained respect, fear, and affection in equal measure with his stick and carrot management style.
During his tenure at Sebei College, his ability to identify young athletes with athletic potential and award them scholarships at the top secondary school in the sub-region represents his career’s pinnacle achievement.
Olympic and world gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich is one of the numerous winners. After taking home the gold medal in the marathon at the 2012 London Olympics, Kiprotich thanked Mr. Cheptoris in particular for providing him with the opportunity to showcase his talent.
Sam Cheptoris had a great commitment to academics and discipline, but he also established a balance by allowing students to have worthwhile entertainment on the weekends, punctuating the offer with dances, plays, movie evenings, and even football.
Excellence was also honored by Cheptoris. Any house that triumphed in an athletic, cleaning, or musical competition received a bull. Bull, a nickname his former students still use today, was given to him as a result of the tradition he established.
Other relevant information
Hon. Cheptoris is known to be a stern yet gentle character. Those who have encountered him say he is the type of person to tell off anyone one minute and then happily crack jokes or conduct serious business the next minute.
His pleasant and dynamic character has earned him the respect and admiration of colleagues and subordinates alike, especially his former students.
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