May 2009

Rev. Canon Gideon Baguma Byamugisha Receives 26th Niwano Peace Prize

The Niwano Peace Foundation presented the 26th Niwano Peace Prize to the Rev. Canon Gideon Baguma Byamugisha, an Anglican priest in Uganda. Canon Byamugisha was honored for his endeavors to uphold the dignity and human rights of people with HIV/AIDS. The presentation took place May 7 at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo. Because of the international swine flu alert, Rev. Byamugisha, who is HIV-positive, did not attend the presentation ceremony. On his behalf, the Most Rev. Nathaniel Makoto Uematsu, primate of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai (Anglican Episcopal Church in Japan), accepted the prize. Some 100 people attended the ceremony, including Uganda's ambassador to Japan, Mr. Wasswa Rocky Biriggwa, and representatives of Japanese political and religious circles.

Canon Byamugisha learned in 1991 that he was HIV-positive, and by declaring this publicly, he broke one of the most important barriers in the struggle against HIV, that of stigma-induced silence. He has helped to raise public awareness of the disease in a way that has brought distinction to religious and cultural communities in his own country, across the African continent, and on a global level. He is the canon of two cathedrals, in Uganda and Zambia, and works through many other channels to fight injustice, with a special focus on children.

At the presentation, Rev. Kinjiro Niwano, chairperson of the Niwano Peace Foundation, described the screening process for the prize. Rev. Nichiko Niwano, the foundation's president, presented a citation, a medal, and 20 million Japanese yen to the Most Rev. Uematsu to convey to Canon Byamugisha.

After an address by President Niwano, a congratulatory message from Mr. Ryu Shionoya, Japan's minister of education, culture, sports, science, and technology, was delivered by proxy. Then Ambassador Biriggwa and Rev. Seiho Okano, chairman of the Japanese Association of Religious Organizations (JAORO), delivered messages of congratulations. The Most Rev. Uematsu then read out a message from Canon Byamugisha.

[back to News Archive]