Consideration of the Uganda National Kiswahili Council Bill, 2023 stalled for a second time throughout a plenary sitting held on Monday, 14 October 2024.
While chairing the sitting, the Speaker, Anita Among, tasked the Ministry of Education and Sports, and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, to harmonise their positions on the Bill earlier than its Second Reading.
“I held a gathering with Hon. Mutuuzo and Hon. Ogwang in my workplace. Hon. Mutuuzo mentioned it was a cupboard place to have the Bill beneath Ministry of Gender, whereas Hon. Ogwang mentioned the Bill belongs to Ministry of Education. I’m directing that each ministers come to the Floor on Wednesday with a harmonised place,” mentioned Among.
Her directive follows issues by some legislators who questioned the possession of the Bill and the necessity for a Kiswahili Council.
The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, noticed that when the Bill was introduced earlier than Parliament, it was not signed, which raised issues over the sponsor of the Bill.
He additionally famous discrepancies on the place the Bill needs to be housed, including that the Attorney General didn’t supply clarification on the ministry answerable for the Bill.
“We instructed authorities to get itself so as, after which retable this Bill. We shall then know who to carry accountable. Even if you happen to insist and in some way it will get to cross, will probably be challenged in courtroom and you do not need that,” mentioned Ssenyonyi.
Hon. Elijah Okupa (Indep., Kasilo County) and Hon. Jonathan Ebwalu (Indep., Soroti West Division) questioned why authorities proposed a council to handle Kiswahili, in comparison with different languages taught in faculties throughout the nation.
“Swahili isn’t the primary language Ugandans are studying. We have Luganda, Ateso, German and French being taught in faculties, however we would not have councils for these languages,” Okupa mentioned.
“My humble view is that you simply make Kiswahili obligatory in faculties, somewhat than bringing this council. We are speaking of rationalisation however you wish to convey folks to handle the council. Are you going to convey the Luganda council, the Kumam council, the Ateso council?” Ebwalu requested.
Hon. Henry Kibalya (NRM, Bugabula County) mentioned that the training ministry is charged with language training and as such must handle the proposed Kiswahili Council, somewhat than the gender ministry.
“The Ministry of Education was launched on this authorities to deal with no matter issues training. Whether training is in Lusoga or Lugbara, it’s the Ministry of Education in cost,” Kibalya mentioned.
The Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development (Gender and Culture). Hon. Peace Mutuuzo, instructed the House that the proposed Bill is sponsored by her ministry beneath provisions of the Constitution.
“This Bill is sponsored by the Ministry of Gender not by error. The ministry is sponsoring the Bill as a result of it’s mandated beneath Objective 24 of the Constitution, Article 6 on Languages in addition to Article 37 on the Rights of Culture and comparable Rights,” Mutuuzo mentioned.
The Speaker, nonetheless, reiterated her place on a harmonised place, to keep away from retrospective signing of the Bill.
The object of the Bill is to supply for the institution of the Uganda National Kiswahili Council, its capabilities, its linkage with native governments and its funds, amongst others, after Article 6(2) of the Constitution made Kiswahili the second official language of Uganda.
