Museveni’s Swahili Ultimatum: Adapt or Be Left Behind, Ministers Warned To Speak Swahili In Cabinet Meetings

President Yoweri Museveni is taking a firm stance to induce communication in Swahili language among government officials. In the weekly cabinet meetings, President Museveni has now directed for addresses and communications by ministers to be done in Swahili.

Despite being designated as Uganda’s second official language two years ago, adaptation of the regional language has remained low among government agencies. This forced President Museveni, an East African integration aficionado to take firmer action.

Hon John Mulimba, the State Minister for Regional Affairs told reporters that President Museveni has issued orders aimed at increased use of Kiswahili during cabinet meetings.

“Starting this month, the president has directed that every first Monday of the month, we shall be delivering our speeches and statements in Swahili,” Mulimba revealed.

“So those who have shortcomings will not be able to say anything.”

Already, Ministers are taking weekly Kiswahili lessons at State House according to Mulimba. The minister revealed that every Monday between 7-9 am, all ministers take lessons in Swahili. In July 2022, the Ugandan Cabinet officially adopted Kiswahili as a national language.

The language had been proposed as a second official language since in 2005, and since 2017, it’s been offered as an optional subject in secondary schools. The 2022 decision marked a turning point, mandating Kiswahili to be taught compulsorily in both primary and secondary schools.Uganda’s membership in the East African Community (EAC) played a key role in the policy shift.

The EAC recognizes Kiswahili as a lingua franca, facilitating communication and trade within the bloc. For decades, there has been a negative perception associated with Kiswahili. Minister Milimba traces this to the 1979 Tanzania-backed war that ousted Idi Amin.

“The military went against the citizens and as a result, people became familiar with terms like, “Fungua,” “Panda Gari,” and “Lala Chini.” Swahili became a language of criminals.”

But with the regional integration on the horizon, Swahili is being seen as a more unifying language for the continent. Additionally, fluency in Kiswahili opens doors to educational and economic opportunities across East Africa.

Challenges and the Road Ahead Despite the government’s push, implementing this policy effectively won’t be without challenges. A lack of qualified Kiswahili teachers is a major hurdle. The government is actively working on a roadmap to address this, focusing on the teacher recruitment and training.