National language still eludes Uganda

The problem of Uganda having a national language is as old the country itself. All the presidents Uganda has had since independence have tried to make sure that this problem is solved under their reign but with little or no success. Some have even decreed it while others have failed because of selfish interests.

Without a national language, Ugandaâ€™s children have no common language of study.â€‚independent/j. siya For example, in 1967, president Milton Obote lambasted the fourteen languages that were being used on national radio â€“ Radio Uganda â€“ as unnecessary. In essence he meant that one language should be used as a means of communication. In a strange twist, that same year, Obote is quoted having said:Â â€œI am in government and I have to take the political feelings of the people into account in formulating policies.â€ The fourteen languages were hence increased to eighteen.

The Survey of Language Use in Uganda (1968-1970) conducted by Ladefoged and others identified three potential national languages in Uganda: English, Luganda and Kiswahili.

The survey came up with the finding that amongst the languages, which are essentially spoken as second languages, â€œSwahili is spoken by a far higher percentage of 35 percent compared to 21 percent for English.â€

The language survey put the percentage of Ugandans who are able to hold a conversation in Luganda at 39 percent of which 16 percent were native speakers of the language, meaning that 23 percent of the population spoke Luganda as a second language.

In 1973, a national language debate was initiated by then president Idi Amin and held at the International Conference Centre. Amin opened the debate by proposing the adoption of Luganda for a national language. Eight districts voted in favour of Luganda while 12 districts voted against.

On August 7, 1973, basing on the recommendation of the conference, Amin declared Swahili the national language by decree. Makerere University was made the main centre for the development of Swahili, with a research centre established there for this purpose and it was also introduced in tertiary institutions. However, no serious efforts were put in place to enforce its usage. Prof Aaron Mukwaya says, â€œa language is never imposed, it develops inevitably.â€

The subsequent debates about a national language have pitted Luganda against Kiswahili. The failure to settle for one of them has given English, the official language, an upper hand. Linguists attribute this to tribalism and linguistic prejudice.

In its analysis and recommendations, the Uganda Constitutional Commission, commonly called the Odoki Commission, noted that Ugandans have not been satisfied with the nation-building process since independence. They cited the lack of a national language as one of the factors holding back national development and unity. The languages suggested were again Luganda, Swahili, and English.

Those favouring Luganda said it is spoken or understood by the greater majority of Ugandans, has a well-established grammar and a written literature. It is a language indigenous to Uganda with personnel and literature available to facilitate its easy teaching.

Views against Luganda were that it is too closely identified with the Baganda, something that would be akin to bringing back Baganda hegemony.

Those in support of Swahili argued that it is not identified with any particular nationality to provoke negative feelings toward it. It is also widely spoken throughout the East African region and can promote regional unity to which Uganda aspires. But the supporters of Swahili hit a snag as to which type of Swahili Uganda would adopt since there are two versions: one from Kenya and another from Tanzania.

The views, especially from Buganda, were that Swahili was associated with soldiers who terrorised them â€“ during the 1966 crisis, the Amin years and the Luwero bush war.

The Commission noted that while English should be the official language, efforts should be made to promote Ugandan languages with a view to allowing one of them to evolve into a national language.

During the Constituent Assembly (CA), a Select Committee was put in place to handle the issue of the national language and it proposed the adoption of Swahili. But the motion to adopt Swahili did not get the required two-thirds majority. Prominent among those who opposed Swahili is current Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi who said that it was a language of criminals. Others countered him by saying that in that case Luganda could be considered a language of conmen, bayaye (hooligans), etc.

According to the constitution, the official language of Uganda is English. But it provides for any other language to be used as a medium of instruction in schools or other educational institutions or for legislative, administrative or judicial purposes as may be ordered by law.

Though it was it was not adopted in the constitution, the issue of a national language was among the terms of reference for submission of the recent Constitutional Review Commission led by Prof. Frederick Ssempebwa.
The Ssempebwa Commission recommended that Swahili should be considered for intensive teaching and popularising so that it can be the language for regional interaction. Just like other recommendations of the commission, none has been implemented.

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Why not Luganda and Luo?
written by Rev Amos Kasibante, October 14, 2009

So, why select Swahili instead of a Ugandan indigenous language, such as Luganda, which is widely spoken and has much literature in terms of newspapers and books written in it? Swahili is the language of 'force' and will not endear itself to the population despite government efforts and a few Ugandans who speak it in broken form. Claims about a return to Ganda hegemony are weak. The British ruled us. Did that make us drop English? Two national languages should be Luganda and Luo.

Mr
written by James Lutaaya, October 15, 2009

Whatever language is chosen citizens should be proud of it. This excludes Swahili the language of killers.the coercive forces eg LDUs , the armed forces , police force, prison forces and other such forces.
Besides swahili has no base in Uganda - everybody saw how the Tanzanians used to rubbish our talk during their so called liberation. Swahili has failed to unite Kenyans where it partly originated. Luo and Luganda will do the trick.

...
written by donga edmond, October 15, 2009

We have a problem with cheap thinkers in Uganda , tribal opportunist and batches of negative leaders , whenever i put my hand into my pocket I come out with my Ugandan bank notes and all there is are the two languages that we have been using since the colonial times . Uganda is our country and we are not made up of luo and luganda speakers , our currency portray our language at the international level , God forbid the day luganda , luo , or any other tribal dialect will stop been tribal to become national . I am a nationalist and i will never bow to any opportunist tribal leaders who may think their mother language is better than mine . I am a Ugandan my national language is either English or Swahili .

Give a try of Luganda for Uganda
written by Russo, October 15, 2009

English or Swahili can not be our national language-all are foreign to Ugandans! Look here: Chinese, Koreans, Persians(call them Iranians or Afghans if you like),Arabs, Ethiopians,Jews, The English!, all have their 'Natural'(National languages and alphabets)that they use proudly. In some cases it has been of great help in the colonial wars where for instance at one point the Chinese and Americans could not break the code of the Japanese texts and the like.Mark this; language is a security, ask bush war heroes. Uganda's national language could be derived from any of the most widely spoken, in this case, Luganda; rich in literature and relatively widely spoken.There is nothing about Baganda hegemony here! Keep English for official use and Kiswahili for fighting 'terrorism' and cross-border smuggling. A 'muyaye' does not need to speak Luganda but dress in rag tag/shabbly, smoke 'bangi' or behave wierdly then one befits the status!

National language?
written by Watcher, October 15, 2009

Donga, please be informed that English is a national language of England and Swahili is dialect that was developed to enhance slave trade on the east African coast. For Uganda, English/Swahili can only be official language not national. Uganda is made of many different nations. Each nation has it geographical position (land), culture and language. Donga, if you are talking about national languages, think about the language of your origin (if you are actually Ugandan) or any other Ugandan language and advocate for it.
Thanks.

national language
written by donga edmond, October 15, 2009

Mr watcher , sorry I am a Ugandan but not more than any other Ugandan ,give me a language that I will be understood by every other fellow Ugandan without been classified as of this or that tribe and I will support your views . or in short a language that you can address the people of Uganda and be understood by all without other asking what you are talking about , for how long are we going to ride on this tribal horses which have been moving in circles for the last half century , lets us not be all that cheap in thinking what a National language is and PLEASE note that Uganda is a single Nation made up of different tribes (not nations) . or you mean we need an official language which should be understood by all and a national language which will be understood by a few ( am i hearing you tribalism or Nationalism)?

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National Language before Nationalism?
written by Jude, October 16, 2009

Uganda will ever have a national Language because we are too tribalistic to adopt a local Language as National.
We first need to start looking at ourselves proudly as Ugandans before we even think of a national language.If we are still debating about Bafuuruki Vs Banyoro ,Banyala Vs Baganda or Luo Vs Bantu, why waste time to talk about a national language.
FIRST NATIONALISM THEN A NATIONAL LANGUAGE

National language
written by Watcher, October 16, 2009

Donga, I actually get your point. However, what you call tribes are actually nations. Remember that Uganda is not natural; it was artificially made by the colonialists. Before they made it, the nations were there. They encroached Buganda first and started to annex other nations to it, to make it Uganda. Therefore, they called all different nations tribes that make Uganda. Ask yourself, why are there no tribes in Europe while there are tribes in Africa? The word tribe is English; do they have tribes in England? No Ugandan ever participated in making the Uganda boarders. It's obvious that there were no Ugandan then, but the nations were there. Therefore, the English succeeded in driving into our minds that we are tribes not nations. Donga, your thinking that you are a mere tribe but not a nation is clear evidence of what I have just said. The colonialists were very wise men

Revistt Uganda's educational history
written by Rev Amos Kasibante, October 16, 2009

Those advocating for Swahili as a national language for Uganda should do a bit of history. In 1969 Swahili was on the syllabus of some schools in Uganda. It died a natural death. Amin tried to popularise it through news bulletins in Swahili etc. That did not take off either. Swahili will never take root in Uganda. It is Uganda's indigenous languages. In the end it is not language policy that will prevail, but the appeal of the language in question to the majority of our people.

...
written by Bob Katende, October 16, 2009

Rev Kasibante, thanks for your educative comments and many of our ardent readers. We encourage people to write short comments of between 500- 650 words about any topical issue. You can send them to me at bobkatende@yahoo.com or bkatende@independent.co.ug. for the readers to debate on them.

Revisit Uganda's educational history
written by Rev Amos Kasibante, October 16, 2009

Fixation on one language is another weakness of the current period. Which is why some schools prevent or punish pupils for speaking their vernaculars at school claiming they want to encourage unity. How wrong they are! In my school days school was multi-lingual. You could even learn another vernacular language in addition to yours, which is a good thing if we want to enhance communication among Ugandan people. And some of us got distinction right from PLE through to O'Level, although we did not study in the one exclusive medium of English.

National Language
written by david kamulegeya, October 16, 2009

It is a shame that we other tribes are so jaelousy of Luganda being a National Language. However what causes and leads to a national language is the commerce, trade and the economic activities. Look at how swahili came into existence it was through trade and since communication was vital a common language was formed forthe traders to understand each other. What is the use of english as a national language when you will go to buy for instance bananas in Masaka the lacals cannot understand you or for that matter sorghum in soroti. We learn languanges as the need requires us too and you cannot impose them on people that is why Swahili has failed in Uganda. We do not need it in businesses and it has a terrible past associated with the army brutalising Ugandans. People use a language that suits them. Forexampl

There are Tribes in Europe
written by Jude, October 17, 2009

Tribes exist in Europe.What they do not have unlike us the Africans is Tribalism .Europeans have had tribes but with time these have been taken over by National languages and this makes some of us think that there are no tribes in Europe.In fact the Romans used to call the people of the UK barbaric tribes and these tribes were distinct. In the UK they have Welsh, Cornish, Scottish Gaelic and English.

What has taken over for them is a Single national language and this has happened over time.Even in German, there are a number of dialects of German that are very specific to different regions.So there are tribes in Europe, they do not have tribalism though.

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Find yourself, Donga !
written by Jespa, October 17, 2009

Donga , if you are a " nationalist " whose national language is English or swahili , you need to find your real nation , because it cannot be Uganda .

In Uganda , English , swahili , or lingala will always be imported languages .

...
written by solo, October 17, 2009

According to my analysis uganda needs to conduct a referendum in order to come up with a national language which is acceptable to all ugandans. reason being a muganda views luganda as a suitable dialect, but is it acceptable to the rest of ugandans. Languages like english and swahili may be given another chance because if we select one indegenous dialect among those spoken in uganda ,other independent thinkers may view it as allevating one group against others .( king size bed for prejudice) . in oreder to unite a fragmented society like uganda much emphasis has to be put on areas that are inclusive not exclusive.

...
written by donga edmond, October 17, 2009

I am just one of those Ugandan who have woken up to reality and understood the importance and the meaning of a language , I am a comfortable traveller out and within East Africa and easily communicate with those educated and uneducated , its unfortunate some selfish communities have been brainwashed and anything else is a no to them even they have been able to justify Swahili as a language of slave traders failing to understand Englishman was the chief slave trader, language is a tool of communication and we should be looking for the best available tool to help us among those we live with not the best tool to intimidate those we live among , any single dialect in Uganda will never be accepted by others so go for a neutral language

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...
written by donga edmond, October 17, 2009

jespa I pity you when you cheaply think or classify other as less Ugandan than yourself , I have a well grounded mother tongue with a long history and that I am proud of , but its unfortunate if I have to use a language which will either identify me as a bayaye or a bafuuruki in my own country . be constructive by trying to be an inclusive Ugandan . It will help you to understand what the real meaning of Nationalism and save me and others from participating in cheap tribal debate among ourselves .This ideology of we against them is what have help to erode Uganda a chance to peace and development as a cohesive society . any local dialect will make 75% of Ugandans feel like been excluded or submissive is not worthy mention about

-1

stupidity
written by omuganda, October 17, 2009

any person who is not proud of his tribe is a very good fool. ple of different social segment hv variations in culture, languages and social behaviors and this adds up to a tribe. but some fools find as an offending to pride one self in ones tribe and prefer to identify them selves as nationalist. one south african musician Hugh Masekela wondered loudly about her daughter's kids that in 20yrs time they will say "we used to be Africans. how on earth someone feel proud to use foreign languages?these are the type of ple who at home use English with their babies. at least S Africa for it, all languages spoken with in its boarders are official. ugandans u need another independence of the mind. or its stupidity that blinds u

Omuganda it is not Stupidity, just reality of the World
written by Jude, October 18, 2009

Let us differentiate between love of ones self and culture and the reality of the world.The world is becoming more and more closed together and for any community to adopt to this changing world, they have to accept new truths and discard old truths.
If our children have to SURVIVE in the 21st Century truth, they need to learn the current International Languages-English,French,Japanese.Chinese,German ,Kiswahili and French as well as knowing their mother tongue. It is not about lack of prIde in ones self but adopting to the reality of the world.
Otherwise if you erroneously want your children only to know their Mother tongue because OF"PRIDE IN ONES CULTURE" and declaring other languages are FOREIGN, then those children will not step out of Owino Market.

Globalisation and glocalisation
written by Rev Amos Kasibante, October 19, 2009

Jude, current international languages alright. But who's learning French, Japanese, Spanish or Chinese or Kiswahili as a second language? It is people versed in their local or indigenous languages. Along with an international language or languages is the drive internationally to recover or preserve indigenous languages and culture(s), As a matter of fact, that is one of the effects of globalisation; hence talk about "glocalisation".

Linguists and social anthropologists also decry the possible demise of traditional or indigenous languages as well as the cultural wisdom and experiences they embody should we jettison them for so-called international languages like English or French or German or Kiswahili. C;oser to home in Uganda Rev Professor Manuel Muranga, a linguist (fluent in German, English and French among others) has been advocating for and written about the importance of our indigenous languages.

NOT A SUBSTITUTE
written by Watcher, October 19, 2009

Thanks Rev Amos, foreign languages should be additional to our indigenous languages but not a substitute. By living in deferent regions in Uganda, you find yourself learning a number of indigenous languages, which is an advantage to your communication skills.

Nations not tribes
written by Watcher, October 19, 2009

Jude, in one your comments you mentioned the Welsh, Scottish, English as tribes. Can you be wrong to that magnitude? If you at least watch football, you could have seen the Welsh national team, the Scottish national team, the English national team...etc. These are national teams not tribal teams.
These are nations.

Kiswahili is the way to go.
written by Magwara Mate, October 20, 2009

Kiswahili is already widely spoken by our security personnel especially the army whom some tribalists and naive people refer to as criminals, killers etc. Sorry for them. Secondly it does not attract such chauvianistic nostalgia in the guise of pride for one's culture. Buganda culture, Luo culture or Nyankole culture is not my culture. Luganda is as foreign to a Kakwa as Kiswahili or English is. Let us look at the unity of the country and relevance in the modern age. How long shall we continue to be held hostage by tribal nostalgia? Idi Amin in spite of his sveral mistakes did many other things and this particular decree on Language like on land was a very nationalistic and patriotic one. Its implementation was only due to the factor of education among the implementors and the role of those undermining his good policies.

magwara
written by omuganda, October 20, 2009

is ugandas existence as a nation unrecognized by just lack of national language? how did luganda evolve from the mother ligua of bantu ple and came to be spoken by over 5million ple who are proud to be associated with it? do u feel happy when some languages get extinct? are u not sure of ur tribe that u ve that inferiority in that u get solace in languages spoken widely? a nation language will evolve out the languages spoken within uganda and this may take 1000 yrs if uganda itself will be still in existence. the nations, eg buganda, u refer to as tribes, i think some are bigger than some european coutries both in size and population even in africa countries like Lesotho, Swaziland and Botswana hv a population of 1.8m, 2m and 3million respectively. Amin decreed did it work? in South africa all 11 nations in it their languages are official so how do u see if we do the same?

magwara
written by omuganda, October 20, 2009

Uganda's "Kiswahili" majored in threats mostly.
written by Russo, October 20, 2009

Some army-cum-politicians like Amin and co.; and security men have used Kiswahili to harass or intimidate or even terrorise and they have found it really intimidating and popular to advance their aggressive authority and coersion on whatever issue it may be and more so to repress civilians; words like: wuyo adui, wajinga, mavi ya kitugani, kamata yeye,piga watu-wuo umbwa tu!
Kiswahili was never advanced in a "friendlier'' language and many Ugandans would associate it with punishment and brutality.
Rarely would security operatives use a local language especially when force is likely to be unleashed for no apparent indication of such. To many Ugandans Kiswahili is associated with insecurity and war like situations-this is a reality we have to live with for a time and time again until then.

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National language still eludes Uganda

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