Written by CHANGE OF GUARDS

Uganda’s ethnolinguistic diversity is comprised of over 50 tribes who speak different languages.  One such language is Luganda which is the first language of the Baganda tribe that occupies Uganda’s central region or Kingdom of Buganda.  At the advent of colonialism, the British had found the Kingdom of Buganda and its people the most civilized amongst the communities in Uganda.  They set up bases in Buganda and used the Baganda agents to extend colonial rule to the rest of Uganda.  In the same regard, from the word Buganda, the name Uganda was coined for what was later to become a territory of diverse ethnic composition.
The Christian Missionaries too, initially translated the Bible into Luganda language and all Christian teachings adopted the same language. Also, the introduction of formal education initially adopted Luganda language as the medium of instruction.  Kiswahili, on the other hand, was associated with the spread of Islam and was adopted by the army and police.  Attempts to introduce it in schools was viewed by the Baganda as a threat to Buganda’s social and political influence.  This gave rise to English assuming the role of official language even after attaining Independence.  Kiswahili continued to be associated with the army and police while the influence of Luganda continued to flourish even beyond Buganda.  Until 1960, Luganda had been the medium of instructions for Primary School in the entire eastern region.
Immediately after independence, a debate about either Luganda or Kiswahili being adopted as the 2nd official national language ensued.  The Baganda opposed the idea on grounds that their language would get diluted while the non-Baganda feared the spread of Buganda influence.  With both Luganda and Kiswahili rejected, English remained the only official language.  During the Idi Amin regime, Kiswahili was informally made the 2nd official language but it only flourished amongst the army and police personnel.  In the meantime, Luganda flourished and drastically grew to become the most widely used language across different sectors – formal and informal.  Overtime, it came to dominant use in almost all domains – education, media, Telecom, trade, entertainment and religious centres.
Its further growth was accelerated by the establishment of an online Luganda Bible, online Luganda Dictionaries, Luganda language books, and other religious books especially by Jehovah’s Witnesses.  For many decades, Luganda language has been taught at Makerere University.  Driven by envy, Museveni introduced the Runyakitara (Runyoro, Rutooro, Runyankole and Rukiga) language teaching at Makerere. The 1995 Constitution specified English as the only official national language.  However, in 2010 the idea of putting in place a National Kiswahili Council was floated.  In September 2019, Parliament passed a resolution for the creation of the National Kiswahili Council.  At one time, Luganda language was tabled in the East African Community (EAC) parliament as a candidate for selection as an official language.
With cross border trade and immigration,  Luganda language stretched to neighboring territories of East African Community member states.  In Rwanda, there are specific places where Luganda Speakers are dominant.  The same applies to Nairobi, Bujumbura, Tanzania’s Kagera and Mwanza regions, Juba and eastern DRC.  In fact,  foreigners in the region identify every Ugandan as a Muganda and his language as Kiganda (Luganda).. A majority of neighbors don’t know that there are other tribes and languages in Uganda other than the Baganda and the Luganda language.  Any attempt by a foreigner to speak a local Ugandan language ends up attempting to speak Luganda.
Consequently, Luganda assumed the role of being Uganda’s major local language.  About 7 million Ugandans fluently use Luganda in central Uganda as their first language while over one million elsewhere fluently speak Luganda.  Though Kiswahili was adopted as the second official language in Uganda, Luganda is widely spoken followed by English.  Unlike in the past, currently, even within the security forces Kiswahili has tremendously eroded.
Since 2010, proponents of Luganda language researchers have launched it on the Google web.  In the same regard, it has been afforded a Smart Luganda language translator and are in the process of generating a common voice platform for voice recognition models for it.  Upon return to their respective countries, the 1.5million refugees from Sudan, Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and the Horn of Africa will carry with them the Luganda language.  Much as some of the Kiganda culture and traditions are being destroyed by migrants, the Luganda language is spreading very fast and seems to be unstoppable.
INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM


source https://perilofafrica.com/2022/01/uganda-how-luganda-becoming-a-national-regional-language.html