The Bamasaaba cultural institution is today celebrating the life of Mzee Canon Kolliab Maswere, Uganda’s oldest living man, who turns 108 years old.
Born on July 27, 1917, in the then British Protectorate of Uganda, Canon Maswere was conceived around October 1916 and is now regarded as the oldest living Umumasaba.
According to Steven Masiga, spokesperson of the Bamasaaba cultural institution, the centenarian’s age is well documented in cultural records, including his traditional circumcision in 1934, when he was 17 years old.
“Mzee Maswere is a living encyclopedia. His firstborn children are in their early 80s, and he got married in the late 1930s. We believe there is no one in Masaabaland born in the 1900s who is still alive today,” said Masiga.
Maswere’s legacy spans decades in education and religious mentorship. He has authored several books on culture and Christianity, and is widely known as a strong reader and an intellectual pillar among the Bamasaaba.
He once mentored the first Umukuka (cultural leader) of the Bamasaaba people and remains an influential consultant on matters of tradition, etiquette, and spirituality.
“By birth, he is a year older than South Africa’s Nelson Mandela. His memory remains sharp and his wisdom continues to guide the institution,” added Masiga.
Unlike the common trend where notable figures are only remembered posthumously, DailyExpress today honours this living cultural icon while he still breathes, marking a remarkable milestone of longevity and legacy.
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