Why we need a Uganda National Kiswahili Development and Monitoring Council

Why I Advocate for a United Uganda Through Kiswahili

Recently, His Excellency, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, tweeted: “Don’t pay to see me.” This rare openness is a powerful invitation for citizens to step forward with ideas that can shape the nation. Inspired by this spirit, I am taking the opportunity to advocate for one of the most transformative ideas for Uganda, East Africa and Africa at large: speaking one language Kiswahili across our nations.

Kiswahili: A Language for Unity, Growth and Opportunity

Language is more than words; it is the backbone of identity, communication and progress. Kiswahili has the potential to:

• Unite Uganda: Breaking down ethnic and regional barriers and fostering national cohesion.
• Strengthen East African integration: Facilitating trade, collaboration and mobility across borders.
• Empower youth: Opening doors to jobs, education and entrepreneurship in a region that increasingly speaks one language.
• Position Uganda as a regional leader: Giving our country influence in East African policy, commerce and culture.

Alignment with the NRM Agenda

The NRM government champions unity, socio-economic transformation and youth empowerment — goals that are inseparable from the promotion of Kiswahili. By embracing a shared language:

• Youth gain competitive skills to participate in regional markets.
• National cohesion is strengthened, supporting peace and stability.
• Economic growth is accelerated through easier cross-border trade and communication.
• Regional influence increases, as Uganda becomes a hub for Kiswahili learning, media and culture.

My Advocacy and Call to Action

As an educator, researcher and advocate, my goal is not only to promote Kiswahili but to create a Uganda National Kiswahili Development and Monitoring Council — a body that will oversee the growth, implementation, and strategic integration of Kiswahili in Uganda.

I humbly seek the opportunity to meet the President or the PS for the President to share this roadmap. This is more than a proposal; it is a vision for Uganda’s leadership in Africa. Together, we can ensure that Kiswahili becomes the language that unites, empowers, and propels our nation forward.

The moment is now. Uganda deserves one voice, one language, and one vision. Kiswahili is that bridge — and I am ready to lead this initiative.