Venerable Bhante Buddharakkhita is the first Ugandan monk and also the founder of the Uganda Buddhist Centre (UBC). The center teaches mindfulness meditation, a way of reclaiming inner potential for a more decent and mindful life.
Bhante’s mission is to spread Dhamma in Africa. He intends to do this by training 54 novices, one for every African Country.
Journey to becoming a Monk
Steven Jemba Kabagoza, Bhante’s initial name, was born in 1966 in, Buganda region, Uganda. Having been born in a Catholic home, he was a Christian in his early life. He says that he was a vegetarian, and as a young boy, he secluded himself by staying in the house.
In 1990, he went to Punjab University, India, courtesy of an exchange program between Uganda and India, to study business. While in India, he developed an interest in meditation and a desire to explore new lifeways. This drove him to start learning Buddhism and meditation. During his quest, he joined a youth society and volunteered in a speech organization, making him continue growing in Buddhism.
In 1999, Bhante went to Insight Meditation Society, Massachusetts, USA, for a three-month meditation program. As a result, he grew more interested and concluded that this was the path he would take. Consequently, he went to California and was ordained.
His ordination was Tathagata Meditation Center, San Jose, California, by the late Venerable U Silananda in 2002. After his ordination, he spent eight years at the Bhavana Society, West Virginia, guided by Bhante Henepola Gunarantana.
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His Work in Uganda and Africa.
The Ugandan Monk says he teaches Theravada Buddhism with a twist of African flavor so that the Lord Buddha doesn’t sound foreign to the locals.
He doubts whether there is any cultural or political leader in Uganda, or even Africa, that has embraced his religion. Due to this, Buddhism in the continent is growing at a slow rate.
Bhante attributes the delayed establishment of the Buddhist culture in Africa to the fact that a Buddhist state colonized no African country. If the opposite were to happen, Buddhism would have long found its way into the continent. He adds that Buddhists first came to Africa in 1925 to build the East African Railway.
Due to the lack of African Monks, he has made training 54 monks, each for the 54 African states, his lifetime project. Consequently, he established the Uganda based Buddhist center in 2005.
Mindfulness Meditation
He believes that mindfulness meditation, which is part of Buddhism, will ease the suffering of Ugandans and Africans at large. Hence, he has been imparting the knowledge of mindfulness meditation in the African continent since 2005.
His current quest is to try to use meditation to heal cross-generational trauma. He describes most people as traumatized. Moreover, he states that Africa has “colonial hangovers” and a lot going on.
His way
Buddharakkhita teaches Buddhism through humanitarian services and meditation. He has impacted 1,500 locals by providing education, introducing a peace school, and providing clean water to the surrounding community.
He is also researching how best to spread Buddhism in the African culture. Through his research, he has published books for reference purposes. Some of his books include Attempted Murder of a Buddhist Monk: Tales and Trials of Planting Dhamma Seeds in Africa and Planting Dhamma Seeds: The Emergence of Buddhism in Africa.
Kabaoggoza’s other book, Sowing Seeds of Peace: Mindfulness Meditation for Finding Peace Within, guides a daily meditation for a greater self-understanding. He hopes people explore new opportunities for understanding and wisdom.
