A Short Biography

Most Venerable Dr. Buddharakkhita (a.k.a. Steven Jemba Kaboggoza

Founder and Abbot, Uganda Buddhist Centre | Theravada Buddhist Monk and Meditation Teacher

He was born in Uganda to a Christian family in 1966 in Kampala, Uganda, East Africa. He first encountered Buddhism in 1990 while studying in India. He was fully ordained as a Theravada Buddhist monk by the late Most Venerable U Silananda in 2002 at the Tathagata Meditation Centre in San Jose, California. He then spent eight years under the guidance of Bhante Henepola Gunaratana at the Bhavana Society, in West Virginia.

Founder/Abbot of the Uganda Buddhist Centre, Bhante is also the founder of the Buddhist Peace School (Pre-School), Buddhist Peace School (Primary section), and African Buddhist High School in Garuga, Entebbe, Uganda.

Bhante has been teaching mindfulness meditation in Africa, the U.S., Singapore, and worldwide since 2005. He is a Teaching Professor of Theravada Buddhism at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University, New York City, USA.

He is a long-time member of Buddhist Global Reliefs’ advisory council in New Jersey. Bhante is a much-loved teacher in many countries. His book, Planting Dhamma Seeds: The Emergence of Buddhism in Africa, tells the story of his religious and spiritual work in Africa.

Early Life and Encounter with Buddhism

Venerable Bhante Buddharakkhita was born in 1966 to the Christian family of the late Francis Jemba and Nampiima Felister, currently the first Theravada Buddhist nun in Uganda. He attended Rubaga Primary School and later joined St. Henry’s College Kitovu in Masaka District for his secondary education.

In 1990, he travelled to India on an Indian government scholarship to study commerce at Panjab University. While in India, he encountered Buddhist teachings and meditation through two Thai monks. His spiritual journey towards Buddhism began when he met two Thai monks who gradually introduced him to meditation and Buddhism, and later, meeting with H.H. The Dalai Lama.

After moving to the United States in 1999, he attended meditation retreats at several centres, including the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts, where he also served on staff. He began monastic training in June 2001 and received full ordination as a Theravada Buddhist monk in November 2002 at Tathagata Meditation Center in San Jose, California, under the late Venerable Sayadaw U Silananda. He received the monastic name Buddharakkhita, meaning “one who is protected by the Buddha.”

He continued his meditation training under Venerable Henepola Gunaratana at the Bhavana Society in West Virginia.

Between 2001 and 2009, he continued his meditation practice under the guidance of Venerable Henepola Gunaratana at Bhavana Society in West Virginia, USA.

Missionary & Charity Work

In 2005, Bhante Buddharakkhita returned to Uganda to visit his mother and relatives. His return also marked the birth of Buddhism and the first Buddhist temple in Uganda (the Uganda Buddhist Centre). Based in Garuga, Entebbe, the Centre provides a setting for meditation, Dhamma teaching, monastic practice, and community engagement.

The Uganda Buddhist Centre has funded many social projects in Uganda, including water and sanitation, Buddhist Peace Schools, Compassion Care Centre for orphans, women and youth empowerment, African Buddhist High School, and Organic Sustainable Farming. His educational initiatives through Buddhist Peace Nursery School, Buddhist Peace Primary School, and African Buddhist High School integrate academic learning with character formation, mindfulness, compassion, and selfless service.

He is also interested in understanding the connection between African Indigenous Wisdom and the ancient Buddha’s teaching. Recently, he conducted research to explore the role of right mindfulness and African traditional wisdom in healing trans-generational trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). As a result, there was an understanding of how meditation practice and African traditional wisdom can build emotional regulation, strength, and resilience.

Education

In 2012, Bhante obtained a Diploma in Buddhist Counseling Psychology from Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy (SIBA), Sri Lanka.
In 2014, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in Buddhist Leadership from SIBA
In 2015, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in Buddhist Leadership from Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU), Thailand.
In 2015, he was enrolled in a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Buddhist Studies at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

Honors and Awards

“Supreme Buddhist Leader Honor” from the World Buddhist Summit/World Supreme Buddhist Conference, Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, 2008.
“Ambassador for Peace Award” from the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace and Interreligious and International Peace Council, Kampala, Uganda, 2009.
“The World Buddhist Outstanding Leader Award” from the World Buddhist Fellowship Youth, Thailand, March 5, 2015.

Teaching

Between 2008 and now, his travels for Dhamma activities have become very frequent. He has been traveling to different parts of the globe to teach and also give Dhamma. Such places include;

Insight Meditation Society, USA
Spirit Rock Meditation Center, USA
Buddhist Society of Victoria, Australia
Stanford University, USA
Yale University Buddhist Group, USA
Howard University School of Divinity, USA
Newark Center for Meditative Culture, USA
Makerere University, Uganda
Uganda Christian University, Uganda
New York Insight Meditation Center, USA
Instituto de Estudios Buddhistas Hispano, Veracruz, Mexico
Bodhi Vihara, Freising, Munich, Germany
Global Buddhist Relief, USA
Flowering Lotus Meditation Center, USA

Publications

Publications are one of the major platforms through which Bhante Buddharakkhita enormously contributed to the development of Buddhism in Africa and worldwide. He has written books on Buddhism and his personal experiences on the road of Dhamma. These include:

(2006). Planting Dhamma Seeds: The Emergence of Buddhism in Africa. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Sasana Abhiwurdhi Wardana Society.
(2010). Attempted Murder: Tales, Trials and Tribulations of Planting Dhamma Seeds in Africa. Kandy, Sri Lanka: Author.
(2012). Drop by Drop: The Buddha’s Path to True Happiness. Kandy, Sri Lanka: Author.
(2014). Caring for Our Planet: Buddhism and the Environment, Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
(2016). Sowing Seeds of Peace: Mindfulness Mediations for Finding Peace Within. Entebbe, Uganda: Uganda Buddhist Centre.