Joshua Nahamya
Born to the late Timiseho Rubani and the late Tarisa Katamwebwa, Mzee Eliphaz Tibekinga Mzee Eliphaz Tibekinga is one of Uganda’s pioneer pre-independence politicians.
Listening to his movable speeches and folk tells one would wonder about the gentleman’s age but truth be told, Tibekinga will be celebrating 97 years on November 18, 2025.
Mzee Eliphaz Tibekinga was born on November 18, 1928, in Buhanama village Ndeija Sub County present Rwampara district. He is the 2nd born still living out of the 5 children.
His late father was a catechist who worked at Buhanama church before he retired in 1930 to migrate back to his ancestral home in Katara parish Karungu sub county Buhweju district.
His school career
In 1939, Tibekinga started his Primary One at Rugongo church school, later he went to Kashembe P/S in Nsika Sub County where he attended P.2, 3 & 4.
In 1947 he went to Bweranyangi located in the Bushenyi district where he studied P.5 class. Due to an overwhelming number of pupils, Tibekinga was among the pupils transferred to Rutoma P/S in 1948 where he completed his primary 5.
In 1949, Rutoma earned itself a short-lived experienced teacher named Amos Betungura from Bishop Tucker present UCU Mukono who was later transferred to Kabwohe in 1950.
“I went with him in 1950 where I completed my primary six. After completing my primary six, I could not continue because by then schools were few and distant that my parents could not manage”.
Life after school
“I went back home and learnt the carpentry, also picked the hoe and started gardening and in 1955 I got married to Faith Bafomukanwa a lady we have lived together for the last 66 years”
The two became one and started growing peas and tea on a 2.5-acre land in Nyakashaka sub-county Buhweju, the works he stopped in 1966 and started making liquor and selling it in Mbarara town by then.
“When I started trading liquor [waragi], I realised it was making more profits and I decided to sell my 2.5 acres of land where I was growing tea in Nyakashaka to add in the business”
During that time, Tibekinga says it was hard for him to transport jerricans of waragi to Mbarara.
“Buhweju being a hard-to-reach area with poor means of transport, I would ride the jerry cans of liquor on a bicycle to Bwizibwera where I would board some buses coming from Kamwenge to take me to Mbarara town.
Tibekinga does not regret the liquor business which enabled him to educate his children and take good care of his family.
“I stopped that business in 1998 because I got a lot of money from it which I used to buy cows, chunk of land and educated my children as well. But much as I was selling liquor, I have never tasted alcohol and I thank that to God”
Taking advantage of the nearness to the parish, Tibekinga also worked as a parish chief who served in the pre-independence government.
“I served as a parish chief during Obote I & II governments until 1965 when Idi Amin overthrew Obote II’s government and it was hard for us to retain our seats because the new government comes with its leaders”
Comparing Dr. OBote’s government and the present NRM government, Mzee Tibekinga confirms that President Museveni is adding on what the previous regime put across.
“During Obote I things were done because we constructed schools, we opened up roads, we constructed administration blocks even the hospitals we have today were constructed during Obote’s time but whatever you find in place you don’t demolish instead you add from there, what this current government is doing”
While as a parish chief, Tibekinga opened up roads such as; Katara-Bukiro Road and Katara-Rwankondo Road.
After President Museveni took over power, Tibekinga again served as LC I chairman for Nyakasa village founded in Katara parish Karungu Sub County for 11 years.
Trying to follow in his late father’s footsteps, Tibekinga also was trained in the catechist role and started his work at Katara Church of Uganda.
“Our church in Katara lacked a catechist so people tried to teach me and I later became one in 1960s”
As a distinguished man, Tibekinga served as a parent’s teachers association (PTA) chairman at Karungu Primary School, later as a PTA chairman at Katara Primary School (a catholic school that started in 1939), and then opened up a school called Karambi Primary School in 1969.
“In the church, I was a catechist at first, and then I represented Katara church of Uganda up to the diocese in Bushenyi for five years”
“I have also been the chairman for the construction committee at Katara church of Uganda a position I retired in February 2022”
Mzee Tibekinga thanks God for enabling him to educate all his 15 children and take good care of them.
“Some of my children are doctors, teachers and others are engineers while others practiced farming and are all taking good care of their children a role I played well”
“For all the works I did God was on my side and whoever meets me thanks me for serving God because we started with a temporary temple in 1964 but when you see the kind of church we have today you will really appreciate that I did my part because I was a man behind all the planning processes”
“I have never been imprisoned because of integrity, telling the truth and finding myself not drinking alcohol the life I have lived up today”
Currently, the old man of the Basingo clan is battling with diseases like lung cancer, and kidney failure among others leaving him bedridden time and again.
Mzee Tibekinga wants God to grant him more years so that he can take good care of the things he co-created.
“You see the property I have still need my management especially my banana, plantations, coffee plantations and forests and the fact that I still need to eat & drink is the reason why I still need to live to take good care of them”
Mzee Tibekinga appealed to the current government to respect the laws like what the previous regimes preserved.
“Respect the laws because laws are important to look after people and their property. During our time it was serious you break the law you are punished, like if a person would be working in government and embezzles government funds, would be arrested but now it’s just a game and whoever would kill the other would be life imprisoned or sentenced to death but today now the accused pays money and is scot free”. He advised
On July 10, 2022, Mzee Tibekinga and his dear wife Bafomukanwa Tibekinga celebrated 66 years they have spent in marriage together with their children and grandchildren.
“Message from the son”
Blessed me Aryaija Gordon born to Mzee Eliphaz Tibekinga and his wife Faith Tibekinga in 1959.
Mzee Eliphaz produced 15 children of whom I am the 3rd born. He educated all of us fifteen to our best.
He was born in 1928 and he is now aged 94.
He gave us great support, words of wisdom, inspiration, and guidance. With his wife, Faith “they work tirelessly in their farms from morning to evening though aged”
They are still God-fearing people as they don’t miss attending any church service.
Their physical guidance will never be forgotten. May god bless the work of their hands abundantly.
Aryaija served as a teacher in his career at Karambi P/S Buhweju and later transferred to Karungu P/S where he retired in 2021 to start working for Katara Church of Uganda.
