Swahili must be promoted in East African for development - Makerere dons

Lecturers from Makerere University say that the integration and development of the East African community be done alongside the promotion of Swahili in Uganda. 

The three dons including Dr. Caroline Asiimwe, Boaz Mutungi and Maseruka Levi Kahaika; who were on a talk show on Urban TV Tuesday afternoon, noted that Uganda's people are still lagging behind in East Africa, in the usage and learning of Swahili. 

Dr. Asiimwe notes that the Government's Cabinet already approved the establishment of a Swahili Council, and only awaits Parliament's approval for it to start working. 

"We need to be intentional in ensuring we use the language for the long term development of the country," she explains. 

Mutungi also notes that there is need to have mandatory teaching of Swahili in schools. 

Swahili is one of the most popular and widely spoken languages in East Africa with at least 100 million speakers.

Swahili is known to many people, especially the elders as a language for thugs and security personnel. It arises from the fact that the soldiers from Tanzania, who majorly used Swahili helped Uganda in the liberation war. People knew them for their language, which was Swahili. 

More so, due to the years of unrest and political turmoil which engulfed the country before the National Resistance Movement took over, so many roadblocks of solders and thieves would be mounted to rob, kill, rape and disrupt peace while using the ‘threatening' language of Swahili. This negativity affected the growth of Swahili in Uganda. 

But, by the fact that it is now the second official language in Uganda, "More people," the dons argue, "Need to learn and use Swahili."

The East African Community (EAC) was created solely for the purpose of strengthening the member countries' economies.

But, Dr. Asiimwe says that the integration and development of East Africa may take, "A very long period of time if the governments do not try to merge the local communities by using the language." She says that language is the most important tool when it comes to survival and development of communities and countries.

Even with the colonialists attempting to abolish it and the hundreds of tribes trying to fight its existence, it has still managed to spread and not just in Kenya but in Tanzania, Uganda and other countries.

Maseruka says that if East African governments consider the use of the Swahili language, the division and tension amongst tribes will cease.

Mutungi also notes that the number of Swahili speakers is higher than it has ever been, "A reason why Ugandans should not be left behind in learning it."