Uganda will this week host the second World Swahili Day from 06 to 07 July 2023 under the theme, ‘Kiswahili and Multilingualism: Achieving more together’.
According to Rebecca Kadaga, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs this year’s theme demonstrates that as Kiswahili grows and spreads across the world.
While reading a statement during plenary on Tuesday, the Minister called on members of parliament to participate in the event as it stands to create awareness and promote a language that promotes the East African Integration.
She further stated that since Kiswahili is recognized as an official language in Uganda, this event will give platform for legislators to discuss means of developing and promoting Kiswahili.
“The event is intended to bring together East Africans to discuss ways and means of developing and promoting Kiswahili for regional integration and sustainable development. The event will promote the use of Kiswahili as an official language in Uganda including creating awareness about the East African Community” said Kadaga.
In the same vein, the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa urged lawmakers to embrace the language. He said Parliament is developing strategies on adopting Kiswahili lessons for Members of Parliament (MPs).
“A local language is very important. It is important for us to embrace Kiswahili so that we have one local language,” Tayebwa said.
Article 6(2) of the Constitution sates that Kiswahili is the second official language.
Article 137, Section 2 of the East African Community Treaty 1999 also states that Kiswahili shall be developed as a lingua franca of the community.