The vice chancellor Kabale University Prof. Joy Constance Kwesiga has yesterday applauded Kiswahili stakeholders in East Africa for championing the development and use of the language in regional integration.
Addressing participants at the official opening of a two-day international Kiswahili Conference at Kabale University, Prof. Kwesiga commended delegates and Students from all the EAC Partner States for using Kiswahili to sensitize the citizenry on the integration process and progress noting Kiswahili is an integral part of the integration project and sustainable development for the region.
Prof. Musol Kandagor a Kiswahili expert from Kenya called on the stakeholders to distill specific actionable areas that would have visible and tangible results that will be applicable and presentable to the public and other stakeholders.
He however challenged the stakeholders to brainstorm on possible sources of alternative funding to facilitate and enhance Kiswahili speaking in the East African region in order to bridge all the borders.
Dr. Caroline Asiimwe a Kiswahili expert and lecturer from Uganda assured Kiswahili lecturers and students of the Commission’s commitment to executing its mandate of coordinating and promoting the development and use of Kiswahili in East Africa and the diaspora, where Kiswahili is the fastest spreading African language.
Asiimwe also stressed the need by the Kiswahili specialists to address the challenge of the Sheng language, a street language that has emerged and is continuously being confused with the original Kiswahili language and thus becoming a big problem that should be addressed with immediate effect
