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Uganda allocates $800 million to promote Kiswahili language
The Ugandan government has allocated $800 million to promote and teach the Kiswahili language across the East African nation to enhance regional integration and cultural exchange.
Kiswahili, Africa's most widely spoken language with over 200 million speakers, predominantly in East Africa, holds significant importance in fostering communication and cooperation among over 14 countries in the region and beyond.
Uganda's Minister for East African Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, disclosed that civil servants, particularly those in crucial sectors such as healthcare and border management, will be prioritised in the upcoming Kiswahili training programme.
While specific details regarding the rollout of the training initiative remain undisclosed, all senior government officials, including cabinet ministers and judges, are currently undergoing compulsory weekly Kiswahili lessons as part of the efforts to popularize the language within the government ranks.
The move follows Uganda's decision in July 2022 to adopt Kiswahili as an official language and mandate its inclusion as a compulsory subject in primary and secondary education curricula. Recognizing the global significance of Kiswahili, the United Nations designated July 7th as World Kiswahili Language Day in 2021, further cementing its status as a language of international importance.
Further, Uganda's goal of integrating Kiswahili into its national fabric is in line with directives from the 21st East African Community (EAC) Summit held in February 2021, which recognized Kiswahili alongside English and French as official languages within the regional bloc.
