Kiswahili is the best choice for Uganda

Dec 28, 2004

I was dismayed by Prof. Walusimbi’s article which appeared in the New Vision of December 15, 2004 titled “Kiswahili is a poor Choice for Uganda.” The article was not only alarmist but abusive too.

Michael Tumukurate

I was dismayed by Prof. Walusimbi’s article which appeared in the New Vision of December 15, 2004 titled “Kiswahili is a poor Choice for Uganda.” The article was not only alarmist but abusive too.

In a bid to convince the whole world that Kiswahili is irrelevant in Uganda and hence a language to be “condemned and fought,” Walusimbi made some fatal and grave errors.

First of all, Kiswahili not being an indigenous language in Uganda is purely immaterial and hence not a relevant basis of argument. Since when did English become an indigenous language in Uganda?

Mr. Walusimbi seems to have no complaint against the English language which is used as Uganda’s official language, and which acts as the national language of Uganda.

Kiswahili is an African, Bantu language whose morphemes and syntax are purely of Bantu.

Just like any other language, approximately 30% of Kiswahili vocabulary has its origin from other languages. Arabic (a component of other languages) does not account 85% of Kiswahili as Walusimbi wants us to believe but a percentage far less.

Mzee Walusimbi further claims that Kiswahili is “a language without culture because it does not belong to any cultural grouping. “Be informed that Kiswahili is a language with a culture and origin and not simply a pseudo-dialectic spoken by ‘goats’ and ‘dogs’ on Kampala streets.

Etymologically, the word ‘Kiswahili’ comes from an Arabic word ‘As-sawaahiliyy’ which means ‘the inhabitants of these (coastal) shores’ This is because the Arabs had preferred to call the coastal people ‘Swahel.’

The ‘Swahel’ comprised of many African tribes such as Wasambaa, Wabondei, Wazigua, Wazaramo, Wamakonde, Wakilindi, Wapaza, Wamvita and Wangazija. These people, who happen to have similar cultural norms and customs, spoke a dialectic which came to be known as ‘Ki-Swahel.”

Mzee Walusimbi goes ahead to call Kiswahili a language of ‘wrong doers’. It may be true that in the past Kiswahili was misused by some people. Nevertheless, it cannot be the basis of argument.

Any language has the potency of being misused. In my home district (Kabale) for instance, Luganda is a language preferred to be used by ‘bayaye,’ mischief-makers tricksters and magicians.

Ladies have to hold their handbags tightly if Luganda is heard in the vicinity. Should this render Luganda a language for wrongdoers?

For people who are not stone-age stereotypes and who go beyond tribal inclinations, Kiswahili is the appropriate language for the obvious reasons:
lKiswahili is a desperately needed language that will integrate Uganda favourably with her sister countries of the East African Community.

lFor a country like Uganda, which was stigmatised by tribalism, Kiswahili shall provide a conducive atmosphere to inculcate unity. It will humble the ‘arrogant’ and elevate the marginalised.

lKiswahili has a competitive advantage just like any other international languages.

Broadcasting corporations such as the BBC, Voice of German, and Voice of America provide enough airtime for both news and features in Kiswahili.

lKiswahili is a very rich, well-developed language. It has a well-defined literature (oral and written) and technical vocabulary that you may hardly find in any other local language in East Africa. Microsoft International has developed software for Kiswahili users.

Already Kiswahili is slowly but surely being rejuvenated in Uganda. If you use your eyes and ears appropriately, you may discover that a number of a local artists are going for it to be successful in their careers within East Africa.

The government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Education and Sports is implementing its visionary strategies of promoting Kiswahili. Kiswahili is now officially taught in Primary schools. It has a well-designed curriculum made by National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC). It is examined by UNEB at both ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels. It is also taught in a number of higher institutions of learning.

Therefore, claiming that “Kiswahili will never be a language of learned and intellectuals” as Prof. Walusimbi claims, is a gross abuse to students, lecturers and speakers of Kiswahili worldwide. Equating Kiswahili with ‘intellectual mimics’ is the most unfortunate and regrettable statement of the year from a member of the UNESCO Advisory Committee for Linguistic Pluralism and Multilingual Education.

The writer is a tutor at
Ggaba P.T.C

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