Cabinet directs on promotion of Swahili

By Raymond Baguma         
                                    
The cabinet has directed for the renewing efforts to promote the teaching and use of Swahili as an alternative language in Uganda.

State minister for Karamoja Affairs, Barbara Nekesa, told a news conference in Kampala on Thursday that, “This is cognizant of the fact that Swahili is a widely spoken language in the region and would go a long way in easing Uganda’s engagements with partner states under the East African Community.”

Nekesa, who was briefing journalists on outcomes of the weekly cabinet meeting, said that government is stepping up efforts to have Uganda adopt and develop the speaking of Kiswahili.

Efforts will include drawing up a comprehensive programme for training teachers in Kiswahili and delivering to students in schools.

She said that the ministry of education and sports has been tasked to prepare and submit to cabinet, a paper for the accelerated teaching of Kiswahili in all schools in the country.

Also, cabinet has ratified a memo from the ministry of east African community affairs to establish a Swahili Commission to give direction to EAC member states with regard to Kiswahili research, teaching and continuous development of the curriculum and standardizing of words.