James Kateka was born on Sunday, 29 April 1945 in Karagwe district, Kagera region in North Western Tanzania. He is married to Dr Adolphine (née Gabone) who is an economist and university lecturer. They have a son, Kahabuka Edward who is a lawyer (an Advocate of the High Court). Kahabuka married Tamala Simona Maerere on 28 December 2019. Judge/Ambassador James Kateka is the third child of Edward Kateka Kayoza and Angelina Bakatagula Kayoza. He had seven siblings. James’ parents were married at church on 18 June 1939 at Nyakahanga. According to records left by James’ father, the Kateka family belongs to the clan of Abayango Abatare who emigrated to Karagwe from Ihangiro in the 18th century. The late patriarch of the Kateka family drew up a genealogical tree going back to Mzee Ntare who came from Ihangiro with two brothers. One settled at Buhamila and another at Kyakatasa in Karagwe. These are the ancestors of the Bayango clan whose totem is the monkey1. Legend has it that if a Muyango eats monkey meat accidentally, one will get an allergic reaction. If one eats monkey meat by choice, one will get misfortune!
The records left by James’ father show that: Ntare beget Bigerelo who beget Nyakatula who beget Rugaba who beget Mahule who beget Kayoza who beget Kateka who beget James who beget Kahabuka. James’ father studied at Tabora School, graduating with a Government Central School Certificate on 19 July 1932. He became Katikiro (Deputy Chief) under Chief Rumanyika who was the chief of Karagwe from 1925 until 1939 when he was destooled by the British colonial government and sent into exile in Ankole, Uganda until 19592.
1 James’ mother was a Muligi-Muzigaba of Katwe in Karagwe. She belongs to the Abakoki clan that originated from Western Uganda.
2 Karagwe was a famous kingdom in history. At a dinner hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister Salim Ahmed Salim during an official visit to Tanzania in 1988 by Sir Geoffrey Howe, the British Foreign Secretary observed that William Grant and John Hanning Speke had in 1862 been entertained heavily and sumptuously by Chief Rumanyika I who was the grandfather of Rumanyika II.