Business fraternity advised to embrace Swahili

By Vivian Agaba

Ugandan business community has been urged to embrace Kiswahili to enable them benefit from the East African Community.

Principal Education Officer, East African Community Affairs, Salvatore Amutenda said that Swahili speaking in Uganda is still low 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 on Wednesday.

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

Students singing the East African Community anthem. PHOTO/ Ronnie Kijjambu

Amutenda said the training is free and open to all Ugandans. Interested and organized groups are advised to approach the ministry for the training.

“These trainings usually target business community to learn Swahili to communicate with colleagues especially those involved in cross-border trade and eliminate issues of poor communication that may hinder trade," 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 noted: “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."

Joseph Saiti, a consultant in Swahili language and trainer was optimistic that more Ugandans would embrace the training opportunity.

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