He attended St. Leo's College, Kyegobe, in Fort Portal, Kabarole District for his O-Level studies.
[5] While pursuing a course at Makerere University in 1985, he abandoned his studies and joined the National Resistance Army, led by Yoweri Museveni.
[6] For a period of time, prior to February 2009, Bantariza, at the rank of lieutenant colonel, served as the commander of the Oliver Tambo Leadership School,[7] in Kaweweta, Nakaseke District, in Uganda's Central Region.
[6] After proceedings that lasted nearly three years,[10] the Court Martial, chaired by Major General Levi Karuhanga, acquitted Colonel Bantariza due to lack of evidence against him, on 14 April 2015.
[12] He died on 27 October 2020, at Mulago National Referral Hospital, where he had been admitted two days before, complaining of chest discomfort, fatigue and cough.