By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Makerere University will on Friday officially launch the teaching of Lusoga language as part of activities to mark International Mother Language Day.
The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Gender and Culture, Peace Regis Mutuuzo, during a press conference held at the Uganda Media Centre on Thursday.
International Mother Language Day is observed globally every February 21 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity as well as multilingualism. The day was first proclaimed by UNESCO on November 17, 1999, and later formally recognised by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 56/262 in 2002.
However, Uganda will mark the day on Friday, February 20, at Makerere University’s Main Hall, where the institution will unveil Lusoga as one of the languages to be taught at the university. The Kyabazinga of Busoga, His Royal Highness Gabriel Nadiope Gabula IV will Grace the function as the Chief Guest.
“The main activity is to launch the teaching of Lusoga at Makerere University,” Mutuuzo said.
She noted that the introduction of Lusoga in academia is expected to elevate the status of the language and contribute to the development of indigenous languages in the country.
According to Mutuuzo, the Government remains committed to supporting the teaching of indigenous languages in schools as a strategy to promote and preserve Uganda’s cultural heritage. She commended the Ministry of Education and other partners for backing efforts to mainstream culture and diversity in national development.
Dr Gilbert Gumoshabe, the Head of the Department of African Languages at Makerere University’s School of Languages, said no country has developed using foreign languages alone.
“No country has developed through foreign languages. All countries have worked using their indigenous languages by identifying one at the forefront and indigenising knowledge,” Gumoshabe said.
He explained that Lusoga will be offered under the Bachelor of Arts programme and will be available to students who passed the subject at A-Level with a principal pass.
“Lusoga is taught as a subject under the Bachelor of Arts. It is a full-fledged subject where a student can major in it just like geography, history or mathematics,” he said.
The move is expected to strengthen efforts aimed at preserving and promoting Uganda’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
