Humanist

This morning, I enjoyed listening to conversations on “Zukuka ne Nalumyanso” (wake up with Nalumyaso) on 88.5 Super FM; a radio stations that is owned by Entrepreneur Peter Ssematimba and which broadcasts in Luganda, the language of the largest first nation of Uganda, Buganda Kingdom.

The topic of conversation was the displeasure of Lugazi councillors who are upset with the manner in which the Local Government Budget for their area was written and presented to them in English. I assumed that the councillors had prior discussed and approved the budget in Luganda and then the technocrats translated it into English. And along the way, the technocrats made amendments.

I deduced from the conversation that as the final budget was presented, whoever presented it, kept referring to the changes that were made to it as “amendments.” According to the Super FM Presenter, Nalumyanso, the word “amended” and its variations were the trigger for the councillors to complain about their local government budget being presented in English – apparently, “too much English was used” and so they did not understand the budget.

English is the only official language of Uganda. It is a lasting legacy of colonialism which in Uganda has morphed into an effective weapon for silencing the masses and for oppression. As in, if you aren’t able to read, write and speak English, chances are your say doesn’t count much in Uganda’s policy arena.

“I refer to the British language as a captured weapon we are now employing.”

Gen. Yoweri Kagutta Museveni

There is, indeed, a prevailing false pernicious view in Uganda that possession of English language skills signifies intelligence.

“I have often thought that my mom’s driver, Lau, is one of the most literate human beings I have ever met, although he can hardly speak English; however, he is able to express very complex ideas and concepts in his native language, and has often given me a lesson or two about my own surroundings, which the English language cannot capture. So how much do we lose by wholeheartedly embracing and promoting this foreign language?”

Connie Nshemereirwe, PhD

A valid question Connie asks of us all Ugandans. Clearly, from the complaining Lugazi councillors experience with their budget conference, we do lose a lot by “wholeheartedly embracing and promoting this foreign language.”

The case of the Lugazi councillors is not unique. It applies in all of Uganda in which the norm is for thousands of Ugandans to be locked out from genuinely participating in important conversations and decisions that have direct impact on their lives, simply because they do not know English.