(Kampala) – The government of Uganda has withdrawn the Uganda National Kiswahili Bill, 2023, to allow the Ministry of Education and Sports to re-table the proposal, following Cabinet’s reconsideration of the Bill’s oversight.
The Uganda National Kiswahili Bill, 2023, was withdrawn during a plenary sitting on 22 October 2024. The Minister of State for Gender and Culture, Hon. Peace Mutuuzo, officially pulled back the Bill on behalf of the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development. This move clears the way for the Ministry of Education and Sports to handle the re-introduction of the proposed law.
“In yesterday’s meeting, Cabinet reconsidered its earlier position on hosting the Bill from the Ministry of Gender to the Ministry of Education,” Mutuuzo announced while addressing the Parliament during the session.
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, subsequently referred the Bill to the Ministry of Education and Sports. This transfer is part of efforts to align the Bill with the appropriate ministry responsible for its content and implementation.
Earlier, on 17 October 2024, Hon. Peter Ogwang, the Minister of State for Education and Sports, had moved for the withdrawal of the Bill, citing concerns raised by the members of Parliament during discussions.
The Bill faced significant challenges during the Second Reading in Parliament last week, marking the second time it encountered obstacles. Several lawmakers expressed reservations regarding the ownership of the Bill, as well as the necessity of establishing a Kiswahili Council. These concerns prompted Speaker Among to advise the ministries involved—the Ministry of Gender and the Ministry of Education—to harmonize their positions before proceeding further.
The purpose of the Uganda National Kiswahili Bill is to establish a Uganda National Kiswahili Council. The council’s functions would include managing the promotion and regulation of Kiswahili as a second official language in Uganda, in line with Article 6(2) of the Constitution. The Bill also aims to define the council’s relationship with local governments and outline how it will be funded.
Below is a breakdown of key elements of the Uganda National Kiswahili Bill, 2023:
| Key Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Objective | Establishment of Uganda National Kiswahili Council |
| Council’s Role | Managing promotion and regulation of Kiswahili |
| Constitutional Basis | Article 6(2) – Kiswahili as the second official language of Uganda |
| Ministry Handling | Initially the Ministry of Gender, later shifted to the Ministry of Education and Sports |
| Concerns Raised in Parliament | Ownership of the Bill and necessity of a Kiswahili Council |
| Next Steps | Re-tabling of the Bill by the Ministry of Education and Sports for further discussion and approval |
