Uganda joins the world to celebrate Buddhist day

Uganda joined the rest of the world to celebrate International Buddhist Day in Japan. 

Uganda's delegation was led by the Vice President, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, who paid a visit to the Uganda Buddhist Centre in Garuga over the weekend before setting off for the celebrations.

Ssekandi hailed the Buddhists for being humble and for their simplicity, adding that there is a need to emulate their lifestyle.

"My humble appeal is to see that all people emulate the life of humbleness and simplicity that most followers of Buddhism observe," he said.

Some of the followers of Buddhism during recitals at the centre. Photo by Nicholas Kajoba

Ssekandi said that the Government of Uganda supports and does not discriminate the different religious groups. He was given a tour of the centre and he planted a commemorative tree at the premises before departing for the global celebrations.

Buddhism is the world's fourth largest religion with over 520 million followers globally known as Buddhists. 

Buddhism encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on original teachings attributed to the Buddha.

The head of Buddhist centre in Uganda, Steven Kaboggoza alias Bhante Buddharakkhita, said that the annual celebrations bring together different people who believe in Buddhism across the global world.

Uganda has over 100 people who practice Buddhism.

Ssekandi with Kabogoza and some of the other leaders at the centre during the tour. Photo by Nicholas Kajoba

Who is Kabogoza?

Born in Kampala and raised as Roman Catholic before pursuing business studies at Punjab University in India where he met two Thai monks who were his classmates, he was inspired by their way of life.

"When I met the two monks who were my classmates during my studies in India, I felt connected to them and I was inspired by the Buddhism teachings they shared with me and that was the beginning of my journey," he says.

Kabogoza later came to understand that there were few Buddhist organisations in Africa. After eight years abroad, he returned to Uganda in 1998 and started the Buddhism centre.

He also started a number of development projects that benefit the local community including drilling water wells, planting trees and setting up a primary school.