Uganda’s Ministry of Defence Advocates for Kiswahili Council under Education Ministry

As discussions on the Uganda National Kiswahili Council Bill 2023 approach their final stages, a heated debate has emerged among key stakeholders regarding the appropriate ministry to host the proposed Kiswahili Council. The council, a nine-member body created under the bill, is charged with the essential role of advancing Kiswahili as Uganda’s second official language, aligning with the nation’s goals within the East African Community (EAC).

Introduced in Parliament on February 28, 2024, by the Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Betty Amongi, the Uganda National Kiswahili Council Bill seeks to activate Article 6(2) of the Ugandan Constitution and the Protocol for establishing the East African Kiswahili Commission. This legislative effort aims to entrench Kiswahili more firmly within Uganda’s national framework by advocating for its use in administrative, judicial, and legislative processes. The proposed council is designed to manage the language’s integration into government functions and promote its use across educational institutions.

The ongoing debate centers on the council’s ideal location. During a parliamentary hearing on August 21, 2024, representatives from the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) expressed their preference for the council to be placed under the Ministry of Education and Sports. Lt. Col. Asha Patra, along with other defense officials, argued that this arrangement would align well with the education ministry’s mandate to foster Kiswahili through the national education system. Patra emphasized that the Ministry of Education, with its role in curriculum development and its broad reach within schools, is best suited to ensure the language’s growth from primary education to higher learning.

Conversely, the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, which currently oversees cultural and linguistic initiatives, including the promotion of local languages, has strongly defended its position. State Minister for Gender, Peace Regis Mutuuzo, during a hearing on August 14, highlighted her ministry’s expertise in managing cultural and linguistic affairs. She argued that Kiswahili, being a local language with deep roots in East African culture, falls within her ministry’s scope.

The discussion extends beyond administrative preferences. Kiswahili, spoken by over 100 million people in East Africa, is regarded as a unifying language that could strengthen ties within the EAC. The establishment of the Kiswahili Council is seen as a vital step in fulfilling Uganda’s commitments under the EAC Treaty, which calls for the promotion and development of Kiswahili. The bill also proposes the council’s composition, which includes representatives from Kiswahili associations, the UPDF, Kiswahili media operators, university educators, and the Ministry of Education.

Adding complexity to the debate, Lt. Col. Asha Patra suggested that the council’s effectiveness could be enhanced by including representatives from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, and other security bodies. This proposal underscores the army’s strategic interest in the council’s placement, reflecting its historical use of Kiswahili as an operational language.

Previous discussions have seen MPs like Rose Mary Nyakikongoro (Sheema District Woman MP) advocate for the education ministry as the most appropriate home for the council, citing its extensive influence across educational levels. Others, including Allan Mayanja Ssebunya (Nakaseke Central), have proposed the EAC ministry, recognizing Kiswahili’s significance as a regional language. Despite these suggestions, Mutuuzo’s ministry maintains that its custodianship of local languages justifies hosting the council.

As the decision approaches, the outcome will have significant implications for Kiswahili’s role in Uganda. Whether the council is situated within the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Gender, it is set to play a crucial role in integrating Kiswahili into Uganda’s educational and cultural landscape.