A group of 300 students who have been undertaking Kiswahili language training at the NRM headquarters have been flagged off to go to the United Republic of Tanzania for a 7-day study tour.
The ceremony conducted by the Minister of State for East African Community Affairs, Hon. James Ikuya Magode was witnessed by the NRM Secretary General Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong at the Ministry’s offices at Kingdom Kampala.
Minister Magode said, “Today we are witnessing yet another milestone as far as the National Kiswahili program is concerned. We are flagging off this group of Kiswahili cadres to Tanzania and Zanzibar with the core objective of interacting with the real Kiswahili environment.”
According to Magode, the initiative shall provide an opportunity for learners to interact with the native Kiswahili speakers to learn new vocabulary. “This will enhance their language skill, knowledge and proficiency to consolidate the mission and vision of the government in nurturing Kiswahili speaking culture among Ugandans.”
The East African Community Summit and the Council of Ministers in 2021 passed a policy declaring Kiswahili as an official language in the region alongside English and French. The cabinet of Uganda among other resolutions adopted the Kiswahili policy by making the language a compulsory subject for pupils, and students in schools and institutions.
“My office, in partnership with the NRM secretariat, launched this Kiswahili program last year with a class of 30 students. I am delighted to inform the world that as of today, the class has grown to more than 700 learners who converge at the NRM secretariat headquarters twice a week,” Hon. Magode said.
The NRM Secretary General, Rt.Hon. Richard Todwong said the secretariat began the initiative in response to President Museveni’s call to fast-track the East African Federation. “Our President has been championing the federation and it was incumbent upon the party to start this initiative to help Ugandans come to speed with what is happening in the region,” Todwong said.
“Many Ugandans missed out on regional opportunities due to communication challenges. So as a party, we started this program to help promote and uplift the Kiswahili culture and Kiswahili language within our population and in the region,” Todwong said.
“Our focus is to train a whole and self-sustaining cadre who doesn’t only end at speaking Swahili but can meaningfully contribute to the national development,” Todwong added.
The first intake is set to graduate next month in September at a function that is expected to be presided over by President Yoweri Museveni as chief guest.
The Kiswahili class Coordinator Mr. Steven Bwire said the learners can now competently speak Kiswahili and they are ready to go to the communities to teach other members of the public. “After commissioning the first intake, we intend to roll out the program to the rest of the districts.”
“We have also trained our participants on patriotism and good governance. The 10-day retreat at the national leadership institute in Kyankwanzi has greatly shaped the learners for more responsibilities and national service,” Bwire said.
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