The Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development has officially withdrawn the Uganda National Kiswahili Bill, 2023, allowing the Ministry of Education and Sports to reintroduce it.
During a plenary sitting on Tuesday, 22 October 2024, State Minister for Gender and Culture, Peace Mutuuzo, announced the decision, stating that Cabinet had reviewed and altered its stance on the Bill. “Cabinet reconsidered its earlier position on hosting the Bill from the Ministry of Gender to the Ministry of Education,” she noted.
Speaker Anita Among directed the Bill to the Ministry of Education for further action.
Earlier, on 17 October 2024, State Minister for Education and Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang, had requested the withdrawal of the Bill after lawmakers raised concerns about its ownership and the necessity of a Kiswahili Council. The Bill, facing delays for the second time, was sent back for harmonisation between the ministries.
The proposed legislation aims to establish the Uganda National Kiswahili Council, its role, and its relationship with local governments, following Article 6(2) of the Constitution, which recognises Kiswahili as Uganda’s second official language.
