Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | Makerere University has announced its plans to launch a PhD program in Kiswahili starting in 2025.
This development was disclosed by Dr. Boaz Mutungi, a lecturer from the Department of African Languages (Kiswahili), during a session with the Parliament’s Committee of Gender, Labour, and Social Development.
Dr. Mutungi, along with other university representatives, was present at the committee meeting to provide input on the Uganda National Kiswahili Council Bill 2023.
In his statement, Dr. Mutungi highlighted the university’s long-standing commitment to teaching Kiswahili and emphasized the need to extend this academic offering to the doctoral level.
“Like other Universities, we have been teaching Kiswahili, Makerere University started as early as 1930s, under the former East African Community as a research institution and then later on, there was a break, but then again started teaching Kiswahili again in the 90s,” Mutungi said.
“And since then, it has been taught all through and we teach at Undergraduate, and graduate levels and I think in the next academic year, we shall begin teaching PhDs in Kiswahili because we have now over sic PhDs, and the two that are remaining are also completing,” Mutungi added.
Makerere University has expressed its support for the Uganda National Kiswahili Council Bill 2023, which aims to enhance the use of Kiswahili across Uganda. The bill, proposed by the government in February, seeks to establish a Kiswahili Council as a government agency responsible for promoting the language nationwide.
The Uganda National Kiswahili Council Bill 2023, introduced by Hon. Hellen Asamo, the State Minister for Gender (Disability Affairs), on February 28, 2024, is designed to implement Article 6 (2) of the Constitution and the Protocol on the establishment of the East African Kiswahili Commission.
The proposed Council will oversee the use of Kiswahili in administrative, judicial, and legislative processes, as well as promote its adoption in educational institutions and society at large.
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While supporting the bill, Makerere University officials expressed concerns over a specific clause (6(1)) that limits Council membership to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). They recommended that the membership be expanded to include all branches of Uganda’s armed forces, such as the Uganda Police Force, to allow broader representation.
Additionally, the university officials suggested including religious leaders on the Council, given the significant role religious institutions play in Uganda’s education system. They believe this would further encourage the adoption of Kiswahili across the country.
“Add one representative from faith based organizations e.g through the Interreligious Council of Uganda. Faith based organizations are key in our education systems since they are main foundation bodies of most education institutions,” Mutungi said.
