Kyabazinga Gabula concludes Japan visit

KOBE - King of Busoga, Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope IV, has concluded his visit to Japan with commitment to promote world peace.

Last week, he was among the high-profile notable guests and representatives of all the Kings at the Ninth Buddhist Summit held at the Royal Grand Hall of Buddhism, Nenbutsushu Sampozan Muryojuji Head Temple, Kobe City, Japan, together with members of the Royal Families of Bhutan, Cambodia, and Thailand.

He also attended celebrations to mark the International Buddhist Day, celebrated annually by supreme Buddhist leaders from 51 member countries to commemorate the birthday of the Lord Buddha.

Kyabazinga with his delegation, which included Prince Wilson Nadiope, Owek. Yudaya Babirye Kigenyi, the Minister in the office of the Kyabazinga and Executive Director of Kyabazinga Initiatives, and Donald Kiirya, the Media Assistant to the King, were invited by the Most Ven. Dr Kyuse Enshinjoh, Founding President of the Buddhist Summit.

The Ugandan delegation also included the Most Ven. Dr Bhikkhu Buddharakkhita Kaboggoza, Vice President of the Buddhist Summit in charge of Africa, Founder and Abbot of the Uganda Buddhist Centre in Garuga, and Andrew Mukomazi.

Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) in India, Buddhism is a nontheistic, 2,500-year-old tradition and philosophy focusing on personal spiritual development, ethical living, and achieving enlightenment to end suffering.  Ranked as the world's fourth-largest religion, Buddhism has approximately 320–500 million followers worldwide.

The Buddhists believe that it is possible to eliminate human pain and suffering from the world through attaining peace via mindfulness, meditation, resisting human hate, greed and aggression as well as service to humanity.  

It also teaches the pursuit of justice and common good for humanity, where serenity of mind and environment must be in sync and that every living and feeling thing (Sentient being) deserves peace.

According to  Busoga palace officials, the above values align with the Kyabazinga's vision of alleviating suffering through:  improving food security, household incomes (fighting poverty), Human capital development activities in Education, Health/WASH and STI, as well as environmental conservation, among others.

Several officials interviewed said that Kyabazinga's visit to Japan and attending the summit presents an opportunity to tap into the Buddhist initiatives of alleviating suffering through projects like the provision of water, education and environmental conservation.

The left hand of the King of Busoga, William Gabula Nadiope IV, popped out of the car window while he was waving to the Japanese at Mount Muryoju as he was being driven to Kansai Airport to depart for Uganda. (Credit: Donald Kiirya)

At the summit, the founding president, Most Ven. Dr. Kyuse Enshinjoh delivered a keynote speech where he issued a poignant warning regarding the "crisis of destruction" facing modern civilisation.

Dr. Enshinjoh critiqued the dualism of Western rationalism—the strict separation of mind and matter—which he argued has led to a world of binaries: self vs. others, nation vs. nation, and man vs. nature.

"The way of thinking that opposes self against others is the root cause for every conflict in the modern period—no matter how much progress is made with this way of thinking, it will be impossible to find a fundamental solution for the current crisis," Dr. Enshinjoh stated.

The Founding President contrasted modern materialistic struggles with the Buddhist principle of non-duality.  He emphasised that true peace can only be achieved when humanity realises that "One is all and all is one."

UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the Buddha’s timeless teachings of non-violence, compassion and service as a “path to a peaceful and sustainable future” in today’s turbulent, divided and often violent world.

Guterres, in a message read by Dr Doudou Diene, recalled his 2023 visit to Lumbini, Nepal, the Buddha’s birthplace, which reinforced his conviction that the Buddha’s message can help humanity bridge its differences and solve global challenges.

“Peace, development and a livable planet are possible if we heed the Buddha’s call to work as one — across cultures, continents and faiths,” the Secretary-General wrote.

In his goodwill message to the Summit's supreme leaders, the Kyabazinga said, "This august gathering reflects a noble global commitment to promoting peace, harmony, and compassion. In a world currently facing significant conflict, the Buddha's timeless teachings remain a powerful source of wisdom, moral guidance, and inspiration."

He said the core principles of mindfulness, tolerance, and respect for the dignity of life resonate deeply with the universal aspirations of people across all religions and cultures.

"Initiatives such as the World Buddhist Summit play a vital role in strengthening international cooperation and fostering peaceful coexistence. I commend the organisers for their steadfast dedication to creating a platform that promotes unity among different Buddhist traditions and nations," he said.

"May this gathering inspire a renewed commitment to the well-being of humanity? I wish the Ninth Buddhist Summit and the International Buddhist Day 2026 grand success and a lasting impact on the world, and may all sentient beings be well, happy and peaceful," the Monarch concluded.

While concluding his visit, the King was invited to a celebratory reception hosted by the Most Ven. Dr Kyuse Enshinjoh, where guests were entertained with various music performances from Morinaga Miho, Harihara Tsubasa and Inoue Michiyo.  

The King’s last visit was at Mount Muryoju, where a planned site for a home for Buddhists will be constructed. After he was driven in a convoy up to Kansai airport to commence his long journey back to Uganda.