The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has retracted the Uganda National Kiswahili Bill, 2023, which was recently presented, to allow the Ministry of Education and Sports to reintroduce the proposed legislation.
The Minister of State for Gender and Culture, Peace Mutuuzo, made this withdrawal during the plenary session on October 22, 2024.
“In yesterday’s meeting, Cabinet reconsidered its earlier position on hosting the Bill from the Ministry of Gender to the Ministry of Education,” Mutuuzo said.
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among referred the Bill to the Ministry of Education.
On October 17, 2024, the Minister of State for Education and Sports (Sports), Peter Ogwang moved for the withdrawal of the Bill.
The Bill hit a snag, for the second time during the Second Reading last week after lawmakers questioned the ownership of the Bill and the need for a Kiswahili Council, compelling the Speaker to guide the two ministries to harmonies their positions.
The object of the Bill is to provide for the establishment of the Uganda National Kiswahili Council, its functions, its linkage with local governments and its funds, among others, after Article 6(2) of the Constitution made Kiswahili the second official language of Uganda.
