Defence Ministry Proposes Hosting National Kiswahili Council Under Education

The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs has recommended that the Uganda National Kiswahili Council be hosted under the Ministry of Education and Sports, considering it the most suitable institution to promote the Kiswahili language.

James Mutabazi, the Undersecretary in the Defence Ministry, explained that this position is based on the Ministry of Education’s role in curriculum development and its overall supervisory authority over the education sector.

“The Uganda National Kiswahili Bill, 2023 does not clearly specify who the Minister for Kiswahili will be; it does not indicate the domicile ministry to host the council. The council would be most appropriately hosted under the Ministry of Education and Sports, given its role in language education and curriculum development,” Mutabazi stated.

Mutabazi made these remarks while appearing before the Committee on Gender, Labour, and Social Development on Wednesday, 21 August 2024, where the Defence Ministry presented its submission on the Uganda National Kiswahili Council Bill, 2023.

The Bill was tabled in Parliament on 28 February 2024 for its First Reading. The proposed legislation seeks to promote the use of the Kiswahili language in administrative, judicial, and legislative processes as a medium of communication by local governments.

The Bill also aims to establish the secretariat of the council, to be headed by an executive secretary, provide for funding and auditing of the Council, and make provisions for bylaws to regulate the affairs of the Council’s staff.

Led by the State Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Sarah Mateke, the officials asserted that the Education Ministry would collaborate with other government entities, such as the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, which already offers Kiswahili programmes.

“Kiswahili is one of the areas of study at NALI; if you meet anyone who has trained there, they have studied and been assessed in Kiswahili,” said Maj. Gen. Henry Matsiko, a UPDF Representative.

The Defence Ministry also proposed that the council, which intends to establish the Kiswahili Commission, should be seen as a unifying factor for Uganda’s diverse ethnic groups and, ultimately, for the unity of the eight-member East African Community.

Kyotera District Woman Representative, Hon. Fortunate Rose Nantongo, supported the proposal to have the Ministry of Education host the National Kiswahili Council, noting its influence over schools, which have a large audience.

“The Ministry has the mandate over curriculum development from nursery to university. I believe they can do a better job promoting the language. They have the largest audience, given the number of children in schools. When children learn a language at an early age, it is very likely that they will adopt it,” she said.

MPs also asked the Ministry to justify its representation on the Kiswahili Council as proposed in the Bill.

“We need to understand your relevance as representatives on the Council. What will you contribute, and what would be your input?” inquired Nakaseke Central County MP, Hon. Allan Mayanja.