The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, has called upon legislators to actively participate in the upcoming second East African Kiswahili language day.
Scheduled to take place from 06 to 07 July 2023 in Uganda, the event will revolve around the theme, 'Kiswahili and Multilingualism: Achieving more together.'
Kadaga noted the significance of this year's theme, emphasizing that as Kiswahili continues to expand globally, its interaction with other languages presents opportunities for collective progress. During her briefing to Parliament on Tuesday, 04 July 2023, she stressed that the event aims to promote Kiswahili as an official language in Uganda and create awareness about the East African Community.
The Minister stated that the event will serve as a platform for sharing experiences and insights on contemporary issues related to Kiswahili. She highlighted its role in fostering regional integration and sustainable development.
The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, expressed Parliament's interest in adopting Kiswahili lessons for Members of Parliament (MPs) and suggested dedicating a day of the week for Kiswahili plenary sessions.
The proposal received support from Hon. Geoffrey Ekanya, MP for Tororo North County, who believed that mandatory Kiswahili sessions would encourage constituents to learn the language. Hon. Patrick Oshabe, representing Kasanda County North and the Pan African Parliament (PAP), expressed PAP's desire for African countries to embrace local languages beyond English and French.
Hon. Faith Nakut, MP for Napak District, urged Parliament to support the implementation of the Kiswahili rollout plan. She referred to a plan previously presented by the Prime Minister and sought clarification on the necessary steps to advance it.
Meanwhile, the Chief Opposition Whip, Hon. John Baptist Nambeshe, urged the Prime Minister to leverage this opportunity to promote adherence to protocols and treaties, as Kiswahili facilitates trade within the region.
It is worth noting that Kiswahili holds the status of the second official language in accordance with Article 6(2) of the Constitution. Additionally, Article 137, Section 2 of the East African Community Treaty 1999 recognizes the development of Kiswahili as the lingua franca of the community.
