Hon. Rtd. Col. Steven Mwesige Basaliza has had a glorious career as a human rights defender, legislator, security officer and a Diplomat on foreign missions. He re-joined the Uganda Human Rights Commission on Tuesday December 20, 2022 after he was sworn-in by the Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ) Hon. Richard Butera at the High Court Civil Division – Twed Plaza. He had earlier served one term in the same portfolio from 2012-2017.

He is well grounded in security and defense matters, national and international politics having been a member of the 7th Parliament representing Burahya County during which he was also a member of AMANI forum for parliaments of the Great Lakes Region; member of the Focal Group of Parliament on small Arms and Light Weapons and member of the Standing Budget Committee of parliament which was responsible for scrutinizing and preparing the national budget before it is read and approved. He is also well grounded in high-level administration and corporate governance having held a number of portfolios like; in charge Civil Military relations – African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), coordinator Transitional Federal Government (TGF) of Somalia with the African Union on political and security matters, Director UPDF Mubende Rehabilitation Center, Senior Military Assistant Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defense, Board member national Environmental management Authority (NEMA) and Human Resource Manager – Coffee Marketing Board (CMB), among other portfolios.

He brings to the Commission a wealth of experience in the protection and promotion of human rights, having previously worked at the Commission at the level of Member of the Commission, Education/sensitization having been a Political Commissar/Education officer at Army Headquarters as well as his founding job as a teacher at Mpanga Secondary School where he was the Head of Department Business Education as well as budgeting and planning based on his previous experience on the parliamentary budget committee and defense ministry; above all, he is an advocate of the Supreme Court and all courts there under.

He is very passionate about corporate governance as well as rendering service to the lowest of the citizenry/service delivery, having been a Member of Parliament representing a semi-rural constituency – Burahya County.

Academically, he is well grounded with a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice/Bar Course from the Law Development Center – Kampala, a Bachelors of Law (Upper Second Division) from Uganda Pentecostal University, a Master's in Human Rights from Makerere University, a Bachelor of Social Science from the same University, and a Diploma in Education Business studies from the same.

The other qualifications include Senior Command and Staff College – Kimaka Psu(u), Senior Leadership Africa Center for strategic studies – American University (ACCSS), Addis-Ababa, Certificate in advanced political education – NRA, East and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI), Arusha – Materials Management and Training in Corporate Governance, among others.