Bantariza was a devoted religious Brother - schoolmate

Many of us knew him as Rtd. Col. Shaban Bantariza. But that was not his real name, according to people who studied with him. He was then, officially known as Sebastian.
 
So, Bro. Sebastian, if I may choose to call him that, was one time a devoted Brother of Christian Instruction; based in Kisubi; before becoming a soldier.
 
He is remembered as having been a genius. Yes. Genius… How then would you explain a man who taught himself French and Swahili in his secondary life; and also excelled in five subjects in his A'level; instead of doing a Combination of four subjects at Caltec Academy?
 
John Agaba, a retired commissioner in the education ministry and now the newly-appointed Deputy Head of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, says: "Sebastian (read Shaban) was a genius. He was a good man and it partly explains why he was adored by a good number of people."
 
He narrates: "I met him in 1979. I was a Postulant; the first stage to become a religious. That time he was at a Novice at Mt. St. Theresa at the headquarters of Brothers of Christian Instruction. We used to play football together and he was a very skilled man." 

A novice is a person who has entered a religious order and is under probation, before taking vows.

At this time, Bantariza had already finished his O'level studies from St. Leo's College, Kyegobe, in Fort Portal, Kabarole District. It is then that he joined the Catholic brotherhood, where he trained as an elementary school teacher.

Agaba adds: "But the photo was taken in 1980 and at that time, he was set to become a Scholasticate. This is a level school of general study for those preparing for membership in a Roman Catholic religious order. This is the third year in religious life and (Shaban) had just renewed his vows of; poverty, chastity and obedience." 

He adds: "At this point, he was ready to be posted by the Brothers of Christian Instruction to go to school and start teaching. You would also be trained to be a teacher at this level, with pedagogical skills, classroom control, and how to handle students. They would also study your strength and know your strength of subjects you can handle. I think he went to St. Edward's SS Bukuumi."

Agaba says: "From St. Edward's SS Bukuumi he came to Caltec Academy and did his A'level. He came and passed all those subjects. If you passed, you would straight go on Government [scholarship] to the university. That is when he joined the university from Caltec Academy. Like many of us, it is the Brothers of Christian Instruction who were paying his fees."
 
While pursuing a course at Makerere University in 1985, he abandoned his studies and joined the National Resistance Army, led by Yoweri Museveni. He attended guerrilla boot camp in the Kabarole area, in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. He also attended and graduated from the Uganda Senior Command and Staff College, having studied the senior command course offered annually at the college.
 
At the time of his death, he was retired Colonel in the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF). He served as the deputy director of the Uganda Media Centre and deputy government spokesperson, from June 2015. He died this week (October 27, 2020) at Mulago National Referral Hospital, where he had been admitted two days before, complaining of chest discomfort, fatigue and cough.

Before his death, his samples had tested positive for COVID-19. He also suffered from diabetes and systemic hypertension, according to press reports.