The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, has flagged off a select group of Kiswahili cadres for a 7-day tour in Tanzania and Zanzibar.
This tour aims to immerse them in a core Kiswahili-speaking environment, enhancing their language skills.
In a speech delivered on her behalf by Hon. James Ikuya Magode at Kingdom Kampala on Thursday, August 15, 2024, Kadaga emphasized that this flagging-off is a crucial step in advancing the mission that the East African Community Summit and the Council of Ministers have been fostering. This mission seeks to launch the Kiswahili program across the region.
“This guided tour will allow our learners to engage directly with native Kiswahili speakers, thereby enriching their knowledge and proficiency in the Kiswahili language,” Kadaga stated.
She further highlighted that the Kiswahili program is supported by a team of competent facilitators who have developed a comprehensive curriculum for the learners. “Most of our learners can now speak Kiswahili fluently and are ready to go into the communities to teach other members of the public,” Kadaga added.
Minister Kadaga also disclosed that her office is in the process of expanding the Kiswahili program to districts across Uganda. “Our goal is to establish a Kiswahili learning and teaching center in every district or local government. I am pleased to announce that the pilot launch of the district focal centers will take place in Jinja City on Wednesday, October 2, 2024,” she said.
NRM Secretary General, Richard Todwong, urged those who politicize such programs to desist, noting that these initiatives are intended for all Ugandans, irrespective of political affiliation.
“We encourage members of opposition political parties to participate in these courses, as they are funded by the Government of Uganda. I don’t even know which political parties these cadres belong to,” Todwong remarked.
On September 13, 2023, Minister Kadaga, in collaboration with the NRM Secretariat, launched the Kiswahili program and initiated the pioneer class with 30 students. As of today, the class has grown to more than 700 learners.
Kadaga also announced that the first intake of Kiswahili students will culminate in a grand graduation ceremony at Kololo Independence Grounds on September 27, 2024. President Museveni is expected to grace the occasion.
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