Business fraternity advised to embrace Swahili

Jan 22, 2015

Learning Swahili language so as to ease communication among the East African Community Member states and share benefits of the integration process like the booming trade is a perquisite.

By Vivian Agaba

Learning Swahili language so as to ease communication among the East African Community Member states and share benefits of the integration process like the booming trade is a perquisite.

Principal Education Officer, East African Community Affairs, Salvatore Amutenda said that Swahili speaking in Uganda is still a very big problem even among the business fraternity.

“Uganda is still lagging behind in Swahili speaking compared to other East African Countries. But even when Kiswahili training programs are put in place, less people especially business people are interested yet they need it for successful cross-border trade,” said Amutenda

He said this while launching the third slot of the Kiswahili training program held at Diamonds hotel in Kampala yesterday.

The three months training is sponsored by Ministry of East African Community Affairs.

Amutenda says training is free and open to all Ugandans, all it takes is for interested and organized groups of Ugandans to approach the ministry and request for the training.

After a period of three months of training, participants are given certificates.

“These trainings usually target business community to learn Swahili and find it easy to communicate with colleagues especially those involved in cross-border trade and eliminate issues of poor communication that may hinder trade. However, few traders are interested in attending the trainings and even those who register, the attendance is still very poor,” said Amutenda

He said that if Ugandan traders are to fully benefit from the East African Community trade, they have to embrace Kiswahili training programmes, since Kiswahili is the mode of communication among East African countries.

Asumani Mukiibi Serunjoji, Executive Director, Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Uganda said the problem is as a result of many commitments that business people have.

“Business people have many commitments and can hardly commit to the trainings. However, to spread our wings and benefit from trading with fellow East Africans, we need to increase in number, allocate time like we do for our other commitments, engage in trainings for Swahili language so that we can communicate, write and read it effectively to boost our businesses,” Serunjoji advised fellow business people.

Joseph Saiti, a consultant in Swahili language and trainer of these groups said that he is hopeful as time goes on, more Ugandans shall embrace the training opportunity but at the moment, more sensitization is vital.

The first slot of the Swahili language training was launched on 11 March 2014 and a total of 75 both students from higher institutions of learning and business people were given certificates after three months of training.

The second slot was organized mid-year and was attended by traders under Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) and yet to receive their certificates.

The just launched slot will be attended by business people under the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Uganda and it is targeting over 100 traders.