Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya (born May 1949) has been Vice-President of Uganda since 23 May 2003. 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... This is a list of vice presidents of Uganda. ... May 23 is the 143rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (144th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Gilbert Bukenya was born in the village of lwantama in kakiri north of Kampala. he was educated by the brothers of christian instuction order in uganda. He had his early education at st. savio primary school kisubi,st. marys college,kisubi, st. adward secondary school bukumi and st henrys college kitovu.

later he attended makerere university in the 1970s where he graduated with a degree in human medicine. he worked briefly as a medical officer in mbale eastern uganda up to 1982 when he went to papua new guinea.

He returned to uganda as a proffesor of medicine and was appointed dean of the makerere university medical school.

In 1996 he joined politics and was elected member of parliament for busiro north constituency. He also served as chair man of the ruling National Resistance Movement parliamnentary caucus. during this period he is credited for having managed to diffuse the tension tha was boiling up between president museveni and other historical leaders of the ruling NRM.

Mr. Bukenya susquently became minister of state for trade and industry before being elevated to minister of the presidency.

He became vice president in 2003 replacing Dr. Specioza Kazibwe who at the time was grappling with a failed marriage.

In 2005 Mr. Bukenya surprised political watchers and everyone when he alleged that the government was being controlled by a mafiaq clique. In an interview with the daily monitor, he said that the mafia was plottingb his downfall. This was attributed to his ever increasing popularity anm his clossenss to the powerful catholic church in uganda.

He remains the vice president and chairman of the ruling NRM party in the populous buganda region. he is repoted to be eying the presidency in case president museveni chooses to retire. however he is likely to meet a strong challenge from president musevenis inner circle among whom some belong to the alleged mafia he talked about.