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I can very well remember those days when the currency coins had the markings put on them EAST AFRICA, the shilling, the cents-- and that was in those days of the famous East Africa, in the 1960s .Prior to Independence, Uganda was a PROTECTORATE, Kenya a COLONY, and Tanzania a TERRITORY. And then came the struggle for Independence or UHURU as it was called in those days, and so Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya became Independent countries in early 1960s with Nyerere,Obote and Kenyatta as the Heads of States respectively.Then the three Heads of States had this idea that the nationals of the three countries could form a political federation and they started paving the way for the East African Community.And then came Idi Amin  claiming that the fertile highlands of western Kenya was the LOST COUNTIES of Uganda and is part of Uganda, and then he went on to claim that there are other LOST COUNTIES its  the Mwanza-Bukoba people and  its area is part of Uganda. The statement on Mwanza then brought the feed back of the 1978-79 SABASABA WAR  that efected the removal of Amin. And so his interference in the E.African States or his claiming of the lost counties to be brought back to Uganda cost him alot. Yes because  we now know that with that came the conflicts in the East African Community and it fell to pieces in 1977. Unfortunately the collapse of the E.African Community  was not brought up in the movie  Idi Amin the Last King of Scotland. But Iam glad that  ten years later we are picking up the pieces and making a new beginning for the E.African Community

Ten years later 1977 -2007, the Presidents of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania are talking of once again making the new EAST AFRICAN FEDERATION and all its pregnancy of twins ( 1-political and, 2-socio-economic federation of the three nations) Then came the agreement that there will be the rotating of the presidency of the new East African Federation beginning by 2010-2013.In the meantime  Rwanda and Burundi have applied and have been accepted to join the East African Community since they too want to ber part of this Federation. But one wonders if at all this federation will materialise  because it seems each country is busy planning for the national  general elections supposed to be some time  between  2011 - 2013. for example Tanzania had elections Oct 2005, Uganda  was Feb 2006, and for Kenya it will be this year 2007. When their respective five years end  we might be wel on in the 2013, the what will happen?

How ready is the East African population  to see the value of the benefits that will come with the new bigger nation called East African Federation or Union. And what will happen to these armies and politicians that at tiomes may have the bias of falling to one side or one tribe for their national recruitments? There has been some consultations that have beeen taken to the local population in the thhe 3 countries and now they are five -- I wonder how far they have gone with the National Consultations on Fast Tracking of the  East African Political Federation?.

The United States of America, and the European Union are example of what may be we want to follow in East Africa, but will the tribal differences, the national political ideologies , and economic ideologies , implementation of UPE and USE for Ugandans only as of now -- these -- will these divergent views allow us to make this federation?  For example Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi have gone far ahead of Uganda in the fast tracking of the use of Swahili as a national language and in Uganda we are still slow at that. Yes,many may be thinking its better to use English rather than use the Swahili for communication among ourselves as nationals of the bigger E.Africa. But with the world becoming a small village , we need to see how we can coexist together, and LANGUAGE is very important to do so. Look, its southern Sudan and Eastern DRCongo and parts of Malawi and Somalia and Ethiopia now thinking about the advantages of the Bigger E.Africa and they too are using some swahili language in the business transactions across the borders with the old E.African 3 states. I think that Swahili should be put on the agenda for the formation of the NEW BIGGER EAST AFRICAN POLITICAL FEDERATION that is going to serve almost 110 million people who have the added advantage of communicating with each othetr with swahili at eastalready done so by the business community doing business across the borders of these five nations.

Some people are saying that the East African Federation will help stabilise the region. I must admit that the views are many .Tell us what you think about the advantages and disadvantages and hurdels that we shall go thru as we witness the BIRTH OF THE NEW NATION  -- THE EAST AFRICAN POLITICAL FEDERATION.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/PA/526/544/527180   and  http://allafrica.com/stories/200702270628.html  

 

first and foremost..think is a high time Uganda embrassed Swahili as a national language to enhance communication. That a neccesity for any project to succeed. One fact and reality that we shall live with is, from the physical look u can never  differentiate a Ugandan, kenyan en tanzanian when put together...we all look like a big family....

It might take time and the efforts of moulding peoples mind to embrace the idea but i think with proper managements of resources and setting achievable policies, time may never be an issue here but at the same time we should cultivate the team spirit from all the nations and before we realise it, the EAF will be getting stronger day by day.

its a high time we sensitized the youth to participate fully on this...we are the future...

Oh yes. its amazing how the peoples of West Africa admire us the East Africans for the potential to have one major language  called Swahili and that this language fortunately enough can not be claimed by one EA particular tribe that will have a lot of political influence in the new EACommunity.My study of the language of Swahili shows that it was born out of the marriage between the Arab language and the Bantu tribal languages that it encountered. Thus Swahili has manyAfrican words and some Arabic words. But at the grassroot level, I fail to understand the opposition to the adaption of the use of Swahili as a language in Uganda where some people say that it reminds them of Amin and the Amin soldiers. I think this is wrong, Swahili is not Amin, and swahili should not be equated with militarism,,,,, swahili is not to be associated with brutality as ame people claim that it reminds them of the brutal days of Amin as a dictator. If the coming of the British and other colonial Masters have finally left us with the using of the language why did we not refuse to use their language, after all they enfoced it on us and we are now using it.

Well what of the Tanzanian Wakombozi who liberated us in the 1978-9 SabaSaba Liberation war? Its a know fact that both theUganda Nationl Liberation Army-UNLA and the Tanzanian Defence Forces-TDF used swahili and its with the arrival of the Bakombozi that swahili spread even faster. And now we have the friendly interaction with our neighbours across the borders  Rwanda, Burundi, Southern Sudan,DRCongo where we are doing bussiness  transaction with them aand the use of swahili has eased this transactions .For others the rejection of swahili comes because they say we dont want to speak the language of foreigners the Arabs because it reminds them of the bad days of slave trade!  Well why are we still using English language , when the British cam to colonize Africa there followed a major break down in tribal and cultural infrastructure as well, so why not reject the use of English as well? And then there is the problem of one tribe claiming to be the MAJOR TRIBE in each of the 5 EAFederation States and wanting to be at the top of it all especially as is the case in Uganda and Kenya.!

I think that for us to realise the coming of the East African Federation a lot of sensitization, conscientization,politicization has to be done to show thw people at the grassroot level who make up a big part of the electorate to see value of the EAF and vote YES for its formation.I think its possible because the peoples lving at the borders are already  living a life that crosses national borders. This is because in 1884-84 with the Berlin Conference on the Partition of Africa the Big Colonial Cake, a big mistake was made where by  borders were drawn without considering that peoples have been interacting freely to both sides of the tribal borders before the coming of the white man the Bazungu Colonial Masters. See these borders, its the Banyoro, Bagungu, Batooro, Bamba, Bakonjo, Bakiga, Alur, Lugbara, Acholi, Langi, Karamojong, Iteso, Bagisu, Banyankole-Bahaya, Bakiga Bafumbira having relatives on both sides of the national borders as is the case with Uganda only and not mentioning a similar case with other EA countries. YES FOR THE PEOPLES OF THESE TRIBES living along the national borders, its only logical for them to transact with the people on the other side because they know that they have been doing so since time immemorial before the demarcation of Africa. And so now to say one needs a passport to go see his Uncle who live few kilometer away across Kisoro into Rwanda is unthinkable and illogical for them. And so am of the opinion that even at the grassroot level  the Fast Tacking of the East African Federation should be easier if it is well explained to the people. But as usual some politicians will be given the money to go sensitize the people and that Govt money wil most ikely end up in the pockets of the few individuals  sent to do the job, BUT THAT IS OUR SOCIETY------ YES CORRUPTION CORRUPTION and never thinking much about the common man except when its time for the votes !!

 LONG LIVE EAST AFRICA ------Iam just waiting to hear the East African  Federation Anthem that is about to be chosen and will be sung .The school children and the youth should be the quickest way to spread the new Anthem. I hear that the few so far selected songs  for the EA Anthem are being played on several local FM Radio Stations to sensitize the people before the final vote is made on the ONE and only ONE ANTHEM. 

TIICA:

Oh yes. its amazing how the peoples of West Africa admire us the East Africans for the potential to have one major language  called Swahili and that this language fortunately enough can not be claimed by one EA particular tribe that will have a lot of political influence in the new EACommunity.My study of the language of Swahili shows that it was born out of the marriage between the Arab language and the Bantu tribal languages that it encountered. Thus Swahili has manyAfrican words and some Arabic words. But at the grassroot level, I fail to understand the opposition to the adaption of the use of Swahili as a language in Uganda where some people say that it reminds them of Amin and the Amin soldiers. I think this is wrong, Swahili is not Amin, and swahili should not be equated with militarism,,,,, swahili is not to be associated with brutality as ame people claim that it reminds them of the brutal days of Amin as a dictator. If the coming of the British and other colonial Masters have finally left us with the using of the language why did we not refuse to use their language, after all they enfoced it on us and we are now using it.

Well what of the Tanzanian Wakombozi who liberated us in the 1978-9 SabaSaba Liberation war? Its a know fact that both theUganda Nationl Liberation Army-UNLA and the Tanzanian Defence Forces-TDF used swahili and its with the arrival of the Bakombozi that swahili spread even faster. And now we have the friendly interaction with our neighbours across the borders  Rwanda, Burundi, Southern Sudan,DRCongo where we are doing bussiness  transaction with them aand the use of swahili has eased this transactions .For others the rejection of swahili comes because they say we dont want to speak the language of foreigners the Arabs because it reminds them of the bad days of slave trade!  Well why are we still using English language , when the British cam to colonize Africa there followed a major break down in tribal and cultural infrastructure as well, so why not reject the use of English as well? And then there is the problem of one tribe claiming to be the MAJOR TRIBE in each of the 5 EAFederation States and wanting to be at the top of it all especially as is the case in Uganda and Kenya.!

 

I was sitting down and having a cup of tea when  three young men came in  and were introduced to me by my friend. They said they were from  Kenya and were new in the land of the white man. looking at me they must ave thoght that may be am one of those African Americans, but as soon as I knew that they were from Keny , I greeted them in Kiswahili and said MUMEKARIBIHISWA HAPA = you are most welcome here. They were suprized that miles away from their homeland  they would be able to find someone who is speaking swahili.

I think as we move to a bigger EAST AFRICA FEDERATION and as wea are about to hear the new EAF Anthem, its high time we get ready for the language of swahili .there is no way we are going to interact with those Kenyans and tanzanians and Rwandes and Burundians and DRCongolese of Easter DRC and the new booming busines in Souther Sudan if we neglect Swahili. By the way its on record that there are more Kenyans now doing bussiness in Southern Sudan than Ugandans, the Ugandans are just waking upou now to join the business venture that has a lot of profits in Southern Sudan, and because of the trade and business there and in DRCongo, a lot of US dollars have been oppoured into Kampala as business men are buying goods to take to DRCong and SSudan for trade.

 

So  WISE UGANDANS SHOULD EMBRACE SWAHILI   

 http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/21/568964

 

Try and go to Kigumba Town in Masindi District www.bunyoro-kitara.com  and you will see that in that place wher there are over 50 tribes , the use of swahili  has helped alot. there are many people who have setled ther and with their many tribal languages , the medium of communication is SWAHILI

Infact President IDI AMIN  Dada had once proposed that 

KIGUMBA SHOULD BE THE PLACE TO BULID THE NEW CITY OF UGANDA -- it is central , from east to west and from nort to south and its on the  Gulu Kampala Highway

well i think it wld be a good thing if uganda did embrace swahili I cant understand why it hasnt happened yet and I cant understand why people would be against it the fact that swahili is a nuetral language not belonging to a particular tribe is good and wld keep all that tribal nonsense to a minimum.....i lived in kenya when i was younger and swahili was a compulsory subject on the school syllabus I think inorder for uganda to embrace this they need to intergrate this kanguage into the school system ....get them when they are young kind of thing...still spuzzles me though how we africans 8me myself included are so quick to latch on to all things european but as soon as someone suggest a change that is part of our heritage we dont give a crap gotta be somethin in the water amma???

 

I’ll have to apologies in advance if I repeat what has already been mentioned above because I shy from HUGE posts…

Swahili!!! why do people think its our heritage? It was a result of intermarriages at the coast, it has never been our heritage… I think we would rather workout something like Luntu if its all about heritage. Swahili is also very limited, English is more popular and there is no way we are going to deny that is has already "infected" us, regional is important but if I can rule the world I am better off…

 

 

Conceptx ur argument about swahili not being our heritage doesnt really hold water so wat if it came from intermarriages at the coast think about how we got the  english that didnt stop us from getting beat in skol for speaking "vanacular" ....... truth is thats all besides the point u think that if uganda decided to take on swahili pple are just  gonna stop using english ??? in all the suggestions for the adaptation to swahili i havent heard anyone saying that we are going to abolish the use of english its always going to be english but would an addition of swahili be so bad........ why would it be so weird for us to adopt it....when I said its our heritagemaybe i used the wron word but I meant that we are  connected to that language as east africans why cant we take pride in having something that is unique for us as a region....and ur Luntu suggestion are you suggesting that we come up with a whole new language thats just plain trippin........

Yes a whole new language, why Luntu? cos there are more Bantu in Africa and you will be so surprised at how we share words with tribes outside E. Africa…

I see no point in wasting time to adopt Swahili if not for heritage nor coverage (the water in my post). It’s like adopting a National language... for what? … too late

ehh conceptx a more realistic goal thank you......

All we need is a common market just like the E.U,not big empty goverments that can't educate,employ,house,feed,offer good medical services to the citizens.We sh'd instead embrace luganda in our school system ,it's the lingue franca in the Ugandan money belt.Kenyans and Tzs speak  English,we can stick to that.What next  are you gonna tell us to learn chinese coz it's the most spoken and they're our biggest  trading partners.Where will it end?

k_raw:

ehh conceptx a more realistic goal thank you......

 

Google-maps wasn’t that realistic 7 years back, but now, you can have it on your iphone…

...don’t procrastinate you lazy _______

 

I ofcourse agree with Kaos.

To me it makes sense to use Luganda for the same reason they want us to learn Swahili.  They want us to learn Swahili because it is predominant in East Africa yet they dont want us to learn Luganda when it is the most spoken language of the people of Uganda.

I can understand why they don't want to make Luganda official... lets learn Swahili so that we dominate East Africa... oh wait a minute.... aren't we already learning English so that we can dominate the WORLD instead?

Be realistic... Swahili is too expensive to implement... most of us don't speak it, most of our teachers don't teach in it, most of our text books are not written in it.... so where is poor little Uganda going to get the money to rework the system while hanging on to using English which we need in our global economy? Keep in mind that currently many hi-tech American companies are investing in the India's labor force (and to some extent Ghana I believe) due to the fact that they have given in to the advantages of English.

Let us all speak what we culturally speak without the obligation to learn other people's language without solid reasons or achievable goals. We will only be using our resources to cut ourselves from the rest of the World.

 

lol... thats my take

You can read more from the old forums: http://www.ugpulse.com/forum/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=2914

lol... man those discussions were fun!

Langauage is about comunication. In other words, how far can Luganda go???  Or Acoli, or any other language you  can care to mention in this thread .as far as Spanish,Manderin, French, Portugesse? Rusian, and of cause English ...

 

Lnaguage is esentail to trade  and amaby others is about interaction........... mutual

.

Inveting a new language [luntu] requires alot of hard work, time and commitment on all the parties involved. It would be a great idea if we adopted an already existing language that is know by many. I second the idea of using Swahili as a common language for the east africa coutries because it is popular in all the countries. Each country could institute a policy where it would be made compulsory at all levels of education.

Using swahili an a day to day basis would also reduce on the stigma associating it with security personnel. 

Common languages mean ***,CANADA is bilingual,Belgium is bilingual,S.A is bilingual the list is endless.It's the gov't's job to support all languages were possible.For Uganda's case all regional languages sh'd be supported to primary and higher level.The  money- belt lingue franca-luganda sh'd be used in official places,we can have translation for those who can't read or write,it's not expensive.We sh'dn't play politics with languages,you can't force people to speak a language with no roots in Uganda,Amin tried it he failed.If we want to cut on the illiteracy levels in ugandan now,embrace region langauages which share words anyway.

 

The writer is a student of luganda. 

Exactly TKO... how far can Luganda go?....AND how far can Swahili(which is not spoken in Uganda) go. PLUS does anyone have studies on the advantages to Kenya and Tanzania for having swahili as a common language- surely they are there BUT are they that significant that we should take the drastic step of investing in Swahili?

This adopt a language thing is a useles exercise... think hard... What is the purpose of adopting a language? Why would you want to invest in forcefully training people a language they don't speak.  I can understand why "Spanish" in Amercan schools is a big debate.... its because the US is naturally becoming bilingual.... things take their course then it becomes necessary to officialize them.  No course in Uganda has led to the need of a language other than English.... The only other language that has come close is Luganda... this should not be a debate really. BUT its not realistic to adopt Luganda for many reasons.... so simply stick to English.

 Let me ask you.... How far can English go?

English as a language in its own has evolved from the English of before; basically because globally communities which use it have become cosmopolitan thereupon incorporating different coined words to communicate.  I think the key word here is working towards effective communication both economically and socially whilst avoiding falling prey to narrow-minded practices and becoming stuck on the language issue.

Persons in West Africa use English only it's referred to as pigeon English, then you have the Carribeans in what european explores term West Indies.  This group of islands use English too known as a partoire/dialect - only you may have a difficult time believing let alone understanding it if you hear it used.  Same exists in USA, where you had the divide between Northerners and Southerners more noticeable in the drawl of the Southern speaking persons.

I admire the education systems from other European States whereupon persons are encouraged to learn and speak more than one language - the drive being more to do with gaining effective leverage in communication.  Perhaps that's what persons in and around Ug and beyond ought to look to: what benefits them in terms of employment or professional careers pertaining to languages.  Learning another dialect or language doesn't necessary equate one selling out of their mother-tongue, but rather a step in the direction of communicating effectively to those others around you. Perhaps once this soaks through the minds of persons they will cease to be amazed to see a white man speaking in their dialect walking around deep in their rural settings - question ought to be how and why is this white man in their midst with the ability to speak to them in a language they understand as opposed to looking at him like a god.

LUGANDA is the ugandan business language just as swahili is the kenyan/tz business language.I am tallking of importers/exporters,which's your ugandan man's business.Now when it comes to improving communication/literature/music/theatre/research then regional langauges sh'd be supported.I bought a LUGANDA-ENGLISH dictionary of 1974,so don't tell it can't be done.

 

 

 

 

 

the writer is a home student of luganda 

Kaos....  Officializing Luganda... I believe can be done. Just like in Ethiopia Amharic is the official language(because it is the most widely spoken)... though not all Ethiopians speak it.

Question is IS IT WORTH IT?

As much as it would be nice, or to some extent even economically advantageous(because the language is used in many transactions in UG), to train people in Luganda..... I don't think we as a people are mature yet to give the Baganda an additional pat on the back.  LETS BE REAL... This is what this language stuff in Uganda boils down to.

So without this maturity as a "nation"... and at the expense of not promoting our own local languages.... lets just stick to English and call it a day.

Ease of communication is what we should be after. 

For example on a dangerous highway in the middle of Uganda.... Which sign is most effective to drivers to a life threatening situation on the road?:

GO SLOW

or

GGENDA MPOLA

or

xxxxxx(swahili translation of Go Slow)

English- All those educated in Uganda will read this AND be able to understand the instruction clearly. The uneducated folks wont be able to read AND wont be able to understand.

Luganda- All those educated in Uganda will be able to read this(english has same alphabet as Luganda) AND many will understand this(Luganda is widely spoken in Uganda). The uneducated will not be able to read BUT!!! a good number will be able to understand this potentially life threatening instruction.(maybe a passenger in the car will read it out to them without the need of translation...lol)

Swahili- All those educated in Uganda will be able to read this(english has same alphabet as Swahili) BUT very few will understand even when they can read this and therefore will keep driving fast. for the uneducated.... they will not be able to read OR understand the deadly situation.

So I ask you.... which language should we invest in? AND which Language will work to enhance communication?

It seems like we want to communicate to the Kenyans and Tanzanians before we can even communicate with ourselves... now how ridiculous is that?

khumalo:

Inveting a new language [luntu] requires alot of hard work, time and commitment on all the parties involved. It would be a great idea if we adopted an already existing language that is know by many. I second the idea of using Swahili as a common language for the east africa coutries because it is popular in all the countries. Each country could institute a policy where it would be made compulsory at all levels of education.

Using swahili an a day to day basis would also reduce on the stigma associating it with security personnel. 

 

 Dear Emboozi ForumAZ

I have been following the Uganda and Swahili language  discussions with a lot of interesting ideas coming out . Thanks for your contribution. i have also read some views that may be another language be introduce such as Luganda since as some pipo say and think- that Lugand is widely spoken in Uganda.

Personally Iam of a different view  and saying that in order to fit into the incoming new East African Community and in order to compete with our brothers and sisters in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi , there is urgent need to acchange our attitude as Ugandans and embrace Swahili so as to move with the rest of the East Africans. We cannot keep on arguing that its the language of the military and of Amin's regime and thus its of militarism and brutality..... we are to move from that view and create a new awareness among ourselves that as as much as some pipo may say that Luganda can be the language in Uganda.. we are missing the point of the Bigger East Africa. And by the way they are tribes in Ughanda who will resent very much the making of Luganda the Language because it reminds them of the British Imperialism  and militarism that was extended to the use of Bugandaism in Administration to the conquered areas of north, east and western Uganda -- and to many of these areas  accept it or not, these pipo dont want to be put under the mastery of Luganda for commercial use with the rest of Ugandans and with the rest of the East Africans

We are talking of how best Swahili can help Ugandans fit into the new East Africa that has already gone miles ahead of us in the use of swahili. Look at the Ugandabn musicians.... those who are singing only in Luganda or some in Luo  or Runyakitara, they cannot compete with those Ugandan musicians who are composing songs and singing them in Swahili for a wider market as these songs are being liked and bought and danced by the wider and bigger community that goes beyond Uganda tribal borders of tribal languages and thus are acceptable in several areas of Bigger and New East Africa. Oh yes the music industry and the business community are moving ahead --- and the Ugandans being researched on their views  on EACommunity the majority of Ugandans sofa are in favour of fast tracking the East African Community--- in fact its Uganda that seems to be ahead of all other nations in pushimg for the fast tracking or the EAC

We are talking about how Swahili can help us Ugandans benefit at a much faster pace the good and culture of the new East Africa. I know some pipo think if swahili comes . then their tribal languages are gone especially thoese tribes that think that its their LANGUAGE that must be the LINGA FRANCA of Uganda.... hey its not about the national Language of Uganda but the National Language of the new NATION called East Africa Federation.Are you aware that the business community has already taken a step ahead and gone seriously into swahili speaking for their businneses and  be able to move and do business in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern DRCongo and Southern Sudan? 

Museveni Explains need for East Africa to Federate Quickly