Benson Wereje studied for a Bachelor of Arts in Education at Makerere University and later graduated from Bugema University. He is currently pursuing an MBA at the same university. A father of four children, he also authors various books on community development, social entrepreneurship, and spiritual growth. With over 15 years of experience, he is a curriculum developer and an expert trainer in entrepreneurial leadership and active nonviolence. Throughout his career, Benson has held strategic positions in five international organisations, working in public health programs, psychosocial support, micro-credit, refugee communities, and sustainable development. As a co-founder of CIYOTA, he served as the organisation’s Executive Director for over a decade. Benson has dedicated his life to giving back to his community—helping children and women, empowering young people, bridging tribal divides, and fostering sustainable peace and development in African communities.
In 1995, Benson’s village was attacked by rebels who massacred rival tribes. Separated from his parents, he endured unimaginable bloodshed before reaching a refugee camp. More than five million of his friends and fellow countrymen were killed in his homeland. Determined to make a difference, he and two friends founded CIYOTA in 2005, uniting refugees and host community teenagers to work on farms and fund their education through scholarships. From educating just 40 children, CIYOTA has grown into a movement, establishing a school network that educates thousands of students in primary and secondary education and some of the world’s top universities. Starting from nothing, Benson played a crucial role in building one of the largest refugee-led organizations, impacting over 1,200,000 lives
Benson’s leadership and vision have earned him international recognition. In 2013, he was selected as one of 24 emerging young African leaders and awarded the Desmond Tutu Fellowship at Oxford University. He was also chosen as one of 20 bold and entrepreneurial leaders—out of 3,000 global applicants and awarded the Echoing Green Fellowship in New York. In 2015, he received the ASHOKA Fellowship for his innovative approach to integrating functional entrepreneurial education to address complex social challenges. Alongside his colleagues, he is now working towards establishing an innovative university that will support thousands of social entrepreneurs across Africa.