MOTHER TONGUE

A presentation by Margaret Nankinga at the 11th Pan African Literacy For All (PALFA) Conference

OBUKULU BW’OLULIMI MU KUTUMBULA OBUGUNJUFU EDDIINI N’OBUWANGWA

Omuwandiisi, Mw. Fred Lukabwe Kisirikko ng'ali ne munnakakiiko, Muky. Pamela Batenga.

Omuwandiisi, Mw. Fred Lukabwe Kisirikko ng'ali ne munnakakiiko, Muky. Pamela Batenga.

 “Olulimi lye ggwanga.”  Buli ggwanga lirina olulimi lwalyo era kino kiruyamba okwawukana ku mawanga amalala. Mu lulimi omwana mw’ayigira ebifa ku ggwanga lye, omuziro gwe, ennono awamu n’obuwangwa.

Ennimi enzaaliranwa z’ennimi zaffe ezitugatta ku nnono y’obuzaale bwaffe nga tuziggya ku bazadde baffe. Guno guba nga mukisa gye tuli, anti ozaalibwa nga lwe lulimi lwo. Kijja nga kirabo okuva ewa Lugaba. N’olwensonga  eyo, zisaana okussibwako essira mu byensoma ku buli ddaala. Olulimi lutumbula obugunjufu, eddiini n’obuwangwa mu buli ggwanga Katonda lye yatonda.

Obugunjufu; Okusinziira ku “Nkuluze Ey’oluganda Olw’ennono” ekigambo kino kinnyonnyolwa nti “enneeyisa y’omuntu esiimibwa abantu abangi” Ennono yaakyo yiino;

Kabaka Kintu bwe yatuuza olukiiko e Nnono, yagunja enkola ey’okugaba obuvunaanyizibwa obutali bumu mu bakulu b’ebika, amasiga, abakungu n’abaami ku mitendera egy’enjawulo. Kino kyeyongera okusimba emirandira ku mulembe gwa Ssekabaka Kimera bwe yabanga era n’ateekateeka enfuga mu mitendera okuva ku kyalo okutuukira ddala ku Katikkiro.

 

Omuntu bw’atandika ekintu oba empisa/enkola ebitabaddeewo, ekikolwa ekyo kiyitibwa “kugunja”. Bw’amala okukiyigiriza oba okukitendeka abantu abalala nga babiri oba basatu, nabo bagenda ne bakiyigiriza abalala. Okwo kuyitibwa kugunjula. Mu ngeri eno abantu baavanga e Nnono ne badda mu masaza gaabwe oba mu bisaakaate byabwe ne batandika okubuulira abantu baabwe ebifa embuga. Ababa batendekeddwa mu mpisa ennungi ezo ne bayitibwa abagunjufu. Bino byonna bikolebwa nga tuyita mu lulimi.

 

Mu byagunjibwawo e Nnono mwe muli na bino;

 

  1. Obukulembeze,
  2. Empisa,
  3. Emirimu n’enkolagana y’abantu.
  4. Obuvunaanyizibwa

 

Eddiini; Eno eba nzikiriza egobererwa abantu abawerako ng’erina   amateeka, ebiragiro n’obukwakkulizo okusinziira ku nnono yaayo. Wano mu Buganda ekigambo “ddiini” kyasooka kuwulirwa ku Ssekabaka Ssuuna II, era Abawalabu be baakireeta, nga mu lulimi lwabwe kitegeeza olunaku olw’okubalibwa ku mmeeza entukuvu nga batusalira omusango. Tusaanye tujjukire nti okusomesa n’okubunyisa eddiini, okusooka mu bantu ba Buganda ate n’awalala  wonna, kwayisibwa mu lulimi.

Obuwangwa Buno bwe buzaaliranwa, empisa, obulombolombo  obulaga obuvo bw’omuntu. Muno mubaamu amagezi n’okumanya eby’obuzaale, okwetanga, okujjanjaba n’okuvumula, enkuuma y’obutonde bw’ensi, amazina ennyimba, emizannyo n’ebiyiiye, ebiruke, ebibumbe, ebitone n’ebiwunde, enkola y’emirimu egy’okwebeezaawo n’okwekulaakulanya. Tujjukire nti na bino biva ku mulembe ogumu okudda ku mulala nga biyita mu lulimi.

Okusinziira ku kunnyonnyola okwo waggulu, tulaba ng’olulimi gwe munnyo ogulungibwa mu bugunjufu, eddiini n’obuwangwa okusobozesa abantu ab’eggwanga eryo okubiwoomerwa era ne babikkiririzaamu.  Eno y’enkwaso ekozesebwa mu kubumba omuntu owoomunda  asobole okwawulwa  okuva ku ggwanga erimu okudda ku ddala. Ettaala emulisa emibiri n’emyoyo okutambulira mu kumanya, okwegendereza, okuwabula n’okuluŋŋamya abakulu n’abato mu ggwanga eryo. Eyo y’ensonga egaana okwawula eddiini, n’obuwangwa kubanga bikwatagana.   

Kyandibadde kirungi okulaga obukulu bw’olulimi nga tuyita mu  kutendeka n’okusomesa abaana abato kubanga lino lye ggwanga ery’omulembe ogujja era emiti  emito eginaggumiza ekibira nga ffe tukaddiye.

Ebibala eby’enkukunala ebiva mu kusomesa omwana mu lulimi lwe okuva mu buto n’okulutumbula mu ngeri zonna bye bino;

  • Obugunjufu: Kino kitegeeza enneeyisa y’omuntu esiimibwa abangi. Nga tuyita mu lulimi, twawula ebigambo ebirungi n’ebibi era kwe kuva enjogera nti ekyo tekiyisika mu kamwa. Omuntu ategeera olulimi lwe era aluwa ekitiibwa tasobola kwogereramu bigambo byesittaza. Aba n’ensonyi era yeegendereza nnyo obutamansa ntungo mu lulimi lwe. Abo abakikola, baba tebeekakasa lulimi olwo ne bamokkola, agagambo ekiswaza! Olulimi bw’oba nga wayiga luyige, nga si lulwo lwa buzaaliranwa tofuna nsisi okwogera oba okumokkola agagambo.
  • Okumanya obukulu bw’erinnya lye. Bayibuli mu Ngero essuula 22; olunyiriri olusooka egamba nti erinnya eddungi lisinga obugagga obwa zzaabu ne ffeeza. Mu Buganda, tukubiriza omwana okukuuma erinnya ly’amaka mw’ava era n’okukola ebyo ebiba byatutumula ennyumba eyo. Eyo y’ensonga etuwasisa mu nju so si kusanga muntu awo n’otwala eka nga tomanyi buvo na buddo bwe.
  • Okwekkiririzaamu: Omwana bw’ayigirizibwa olulimi lwe okuva ku lunaku olusooka okutuusa ku myaka nga ena nga talutabisetabise, ayiga mangu enjatula y’ebigambo, okwawula ebintu ebiri awaka, okwawula abantu, gamba nga Baaba, Ssenga, Kkojja ne Maama so si  buli gw’alaba okumuyita Auntie. Lumu nakyala awantu era twali tulya ekyemisana, omwana ow’emyaka ena yabuuza nnyina nti, “Lwaki bw’oba oyogera nange oyogera mu Lungereza so nga bw’oba oyogera ne Dadi wamu n’abantu abalala oyogera Luganda? Omuzadde yalemwa okuddamu ekibuuzo era ne yeebuzaabuza ng’agamba nti, “Abaana teboogera nga balya” naye nafuba okumumatiza era yakkiriza okwogera n’omwana mu Luganda. Yaŋŋamba nti kati omwana asoma bulungi ddala.
  •  Okwewa n’okuwaŋŋana ekitiibwa: Omwana bw’akuzibwa ng’ayogera olulimi lwe, kiba kizibu obutawa bantu kitiibwa okugeza, tasobola kulamusa muntu mukulu nti oli otya, kubanga omusajja mu Buganda aba ssebo ate omukyala aba nnyabo. Akabonero ak’okufukamira ng’omwana yenna   abuuza abamusingako kalaga obukkakkamu, obuwombeefu, obuwulize, n’okussa ekitiibwa mu muntu.
  • Okunyweza oluganda n’enkolagana mu bantu: Mu kwogera olulimi oluzaaliranwa n’okulukenkuka, omwana ayongera okutegeera bakadde be era n’okwongera okubayigirako. Kino kireetawo empuliziganya, omukwano, obwesigwa omwana by’akula  nabyo okukuuma oluganda n’obutazza misango anti Bayibuli egamba mu Ezekyeri essuula 21 olunyiriri 30 nti  mu nsi mwe watondebwa era mu ggwanga mwe wazaalirwa mwe ndikusalira omusango.
  • Okufuna obuyiiya: Kimanyiddwa bulungi okusinziira mu kunoonyereza nti buli muntu alowooleza mu lulimi oluzaaliranwa. Ssinga omwana tafuna musingi mugumu mu lulimi okugeza, okuyiga ennimi ebbiri oba essatu mu buto, aba talowooleza ku misinde gye gimu n’oyo amanyi olulimi olumu. Kikendeeza ku busobozi bw’omwana obw’okuyiiya n’okuvumbula, kuba aba teyafuna mirandira gya lulimi lwe.
  • Okufuna obumanyi n’amagezi eby’obuzaaliranwa: Obuwangwa, ennono n’obulombolombo biyisibwa mu lulimi okuva ku mulembe ogumu okudda ku mulala. Wadde okuwandiika kwajja ne kukola nga etterekero ly’ebyo bye njogeddeko, waliwo empisa, emizizo n’obulombolombo ebitali biwandiike kyokka nga bikolwa ate nga bimanyibwa oyo ategeera olulimi okugeza, omwana bw’oba omugaana okusolobeza ku mmere, okimugamba otya mu Lungereza! Waliwo amagezi ag’okukola ebintu n’okuvumbula nga okukomaga, okuweesa, okubajja, okusimba olusuku, okumanya eddagala n’emiti egiwonya, endwadde n’obubenje, okuzimba n’ebirala. Kituufu kati tuli mu kwekulaakulanya era bingi bikyusiddwa naye tetusobola kuzza Buganda ku ntikko nga tetumanyi gye twava kubanga ekyo kye kireeta muno abalambuzi. 
  • Okunyweza olujegere wakati w’omuzadde, omwana n’omusomesa: Emirundi mingi twesanze ng’abazadde batya okwogera n’abasomesa olw’obutaba na lulimi lubagatta. Ssinga omuzadde, omwana n’omusomesa basobola okukozesa olulimi lumu mu kulambika n’okulabirira omwana, wabaawo okulondoola enkula n’ensoma y’omwana. Akula ng’akimanyi nti abazadde n’abasomesa bafaayo ku kusoma kwe. Kimuwa okunyiikira n’okunyumirwa by’asoma olwo akule nga mugunjufu ate nga muyigirize anti Bayibuli mu Ngero essuula 22 olunyiriri olwomukaaga egamba nti Manyiiza omwana omuto ekkubo eddungi ery’okutambulirangamu, awo ne bw’aliba akaddiye, talirivaamu.

Omwana bw’ayiga olulimi nga muto n’asoma olulimi oluzaaliranwa ku mutendera ogwa waggulu, kimuyamba okweyongera okumanya ku buwangwa bwe n’ennono, eddiini n’okugunjuka  era kimufuula ow’omugaso mu kitundu, mu masinzizo  ne ku kyalo era kigaziya n’enkolagana ye n’abantu mu mirimu, n’obulamu obwa bulijjo. Ne bwe tuba tuzze mu byobufuzi, akalulu n’enteeseganya mu kyalo oba mu kitundu biba mu nnimi zaffe enzaaliranwa.

Okuwumbawumba

Nsaba nga tujjukira olunaku luno olukulu mu Buganda, Uganda n’ensi zonna, Fr. Mapeera ne Bro. Amansi lwe baaatuuka muno, twebaze nnyo eddiini y’Ekikatoliki anti y’ekyasinze okukuuma olulimi n’obuwangwa bwaffe. Tebaagezaako kukyusa mannya g’abaana nga babatuuma amannya ga bakitaabawe ng’abalala bwe bakola. Bagezaako nnyo okukuuma obuwanagwa bwaffe we kiba kisoboka. Olaba bagezaako okukuuma ekigambo nga essaabo nga kitegeeza ekifo we tusaabira! Olubugo bakkiriza nti lugoye era n’ebivuga byaffe Ebiganda babikozesa mu Eklezia, baamanya nti si bya setaani.  

Nga mmaliriza, nkubiriza mwenna okuddayo ku nnono tukozese olulimi lwaffe mu butuufu bwalwo olwo tutumbule obugunjufu, eddiini n’obuwangwa bwaffe. Kino kye kirabo  oba amakula ge tusobola okuwa Ssekabaka Muteesa I okumwebaza olw’okwolesebwa bwe yakkiriza abaminsane okujja okutuwa ekitangaala kye tutambulirako kati.

Awangaale Cuucu.

Bya Lukabwe Fred Kisirikko

okuva mu

EKIBIINA KY’OLULIMI OLUGANDA

OKWOGERA KWA DR. WAMBI GULERE KU LUNAKU LW'ENNIMI ENNANSI

Dr. Wambi Gulere ku mikolo gy'olunaku lw'ensi yonna olw'ennimi ennansi olw'omwaka 2015

Dr. Wambi Gulere ku mikolo gy'olunaku lw'ensi yonna olw'ennimi ennansi olw'omwaka 2015

The role of languages in realizing a value-based society

A paper presented at the

International Mother Tongue Day Symposium in Uganda

21st February, 2015

By Cornelius Wambi Gulere

Email: lusogalangac@gmail.com;  gulerefoundation@gmail.com

Theme: Local Languages for Global Citizenship: Spotlight on Science

What holds our society together?

A society holds together through the quality of its shared values (virtues), which are produced through a shared conversation. (Sachs, 1997)

•Values create safe, secure, loving environments that encourage the development of right character. (Neil Hawkes)

Kisoga philosophy on discipline

Proverb: "Wealth is discipline" – "Obugaiga Mpisa"

•This proverb embeds truth (amazima), honesty (obutuufu), integrity (obuvumu), love (obugonzi), peace (obudembufu), justice (obwenkania), cleanliness (obuyondho), hardwork (okukola einho), frugality (okwefubaku), punctuality (obwangu), participation (okwetabira), care (okufaayo), gentleness (obwikaikamu), compassion (okwendeza), empathy (okusaasira), helpful (obuyambi) unity (obweyimbi), listen (obuwulize) …

Proverb: "Poverty is discipline" – "Obwavu Mpisa"

•The opposite manifests negative baviours like: lying (okulimba), corruption (obunanfuusi, obugubuze), glutony (omuluulu), envy (eikoda), jealousy (eighali), hatred (obukyayi), intolerance (eisini,), time wastage (obwonhoonhi bw’ebiseera), dirtiness (obunhaga), laziness (obunafu), selfishness / pride (okwemanha, obutayendeza), carelessness (obulagaadhavu), chaotic (obutabangufu / obutabangulo, obuyombi), division (obweyawuze), belligerence (belegye / obukulumbavu)…

 The 4 Way Test of the things we think say and do?

Is it the Truth?

Is it Fair?

Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?

Is it Beneficial to all concerned?

•Self-less service is a value-based vocabulary that we need cultivate in our languages

•Rotary International founder Paul Harris instituted the 4-way Test to promote "service above self" among professionals and business people.

•Rotary values the rights of others & promotes respect for all individuals.

The Scouts Motto and Promise

The Scout motto: Always Be Prepared.

The Scout Promise:

Oh my honour I promise to do my best to do my duty to always help those in need for God and My Country to obey the scout law.

•Baden Powell founded the scouts movement on 22 February 1907 in order to promote the values of preparedness and service to those in need. Scouting promotes empathy, love, obedience, diligence, punctuality.

Namasagali College Anthem

•Students are we

•Of Namasagali

•We strife to be

•Wise, pious, pure and true

•To love each other and bring God’s goodness to our dear nation

•Always be there

•On Time and duty’s call.

•Being in the precincts of Uganda National Cultural Center brings fond memories of my old school whose main duty was to nurture Ugandans with international values.

•Through Music, Dance, Drama Productions this goal was pursued to great success.

Uganda National Anthem

•Oh Uganda

•May God Uphold thee

•We lay Our future in thy hands

•United, Free

•For liberty

•Together we stand!

•The first stanza of the Uganda National Anthem seeks to promote the values of submission, unity, freedom, liberty, togetherness.

•It embeds love, respect, care, … which are universal human values.

Stanza 2

•Oh Uganda

•The Land of Freedom

•Our Love and Labour we give

•And with neighbours all

•At our Country’s call

•In peace and Friendship we live!

•The value-based vocabulary in this stanza includes freedom, love, labour, give, peace, friendship.

•It promotes good neighbourliness and community.

•It creates an environment of love and comradeship.

Stanza 3

•Oh Uganda

•The land that feeds us

•By Sun and fertile soils grown

•For our own dear land

•We shall always stand

•The Pearl of Africa’s crown

•In this stanza, the value based vocabulary used is in terms of praise and self-esteem. Adjectives like dear, pearl, crown, fertile, and words that connote unity – us, our, we, own promote the value of togetherness, co-existence, love.

Buganda Anthem Chorus

•Twesimye Nnyo x2

•Olwa Buganda yaffe

•Ekitiibwa kya Buganda Kyava dda

•Naffe tukikuumenga!

•Appreciation is the value based vocabulary emphasized here.

•It also promotes self-esteem (ekitiibwa) and confidence among the people.

•This leads to a more positive and ethically based conduct.

Busoga anthem Chorus

•Tuli ba nkabi inho

•Yenga Twesiimye inho

•Olwa Inhaife ono Busoga Kibbumba ye yatugha

•Olw’ekilabo kino ekikologho

•Tweyimbe nga

•Busoga atebenkerenga ense n’ense

•Here, we have the value of appreciation, togetherness, unity, peace.

•The use of language that reinforces love, self-esteem is key to the building of communities with common goals and purpose.

The East African Anthem chorus

Jumuiya Yetu sote tuilinde

Tuwajibike, tuimarike

Umoja wetu ni nguzo yetu

Idumu Jumuiya yetu.

•Let us all protect our Community

•We should work hard, to Strengthen it.

•Our unity is our pillar

•So sustain/uphold our Community .

•Here, the East Africans are craving for protection, community, working hard, strengthening the community through unity.

•By promoting such value based vocabulary, the EAC can overcome the tendencies toward selfish business activities and political strife.

•"Let us all protect our community" calls for a civil, caring and compassionate society

The African Anthem chorus

•Let us all unite and celebrate together

•The victories won for our liberation

•Let us dedicate ourselves to rise together

•To defend our liberty and unity

Twenatwena twegaite era tusagambire ghalala

 •Obughanguzi obwokununulibwa kwaife

 •Twekekembe tufufudukire ghalala

 •Okutaasa eidembe no obwegaisi bwaife. -

Lusoga

•"Africa Unite" is the famous call that singer Bob Marley from Jamaica left with us.

•This anthem promotes value-based vocabulary in words like unite, celebrate, victory, dedicate, together, liberty.

•The value words such as respect, tolerance, trust, resilience, compassion and responsibility are part of our anthems, names, songs, stories.

•We need to project value based vocabulary much more in our daily language use.

Adopting Language with positive human values

•Our future depends on all people living their lives based on positive, rather than limiting values.

•adopting, and living by, a set of community agreed positive human values has a great impact on the development of society.

•Books and Mass media need to use and create awareness of the value of self, others and the environment

•Research undertaken by the Barrett Values Centre (January 2013) showed that British people thought that Britain was increasingly experiencing a set of limiting values, based on: consumerism, money, greed and a celebrity culture. Limiting values such as bureaucracy, violence and fear were identified as worrying examples of current British values. Yet, people said that their personal values were generally more positive.

Some Consequences of value-based Language use

•When I was the Editor in Chief of Kodh’eyo Lusoga Newspaper (1996-8) I rejected any articles that promoted unethical behaviour.

•Hon. Amama Mbabazi recently told youth who were pushing him into the 2016 presidential contest that, "speed kills, slow down, am a strong NRM member."

•I was sued by some people who felt that I was favouring one side.

•Ofwono Opondo uses very strong language which you can find in the New Vision Newspaper Friday 20 2015, 6

•The Spokesperson of NRM uses the "I- it relationship" while the former SG uses the "I – thou relationship."

Learn a Common Language

•Develop a deep understanding of words, such as respect, by having opportunities to practice them at school, home, workplace, recreation.

•From the values words the people learn

a common language.

•An ethical vocabulary promotes the development of ethical intelligence

•the ability to live with a heightened awareness of the value of self, others and the environment constitutes the common language that is devoid of prejudices, selfish interests and the machinations of beliefs and ideology.

•Values are universal. They can be interpreted and translated from one culture and language to another without being changed.

What is the role of our schools?

•The schools bring together parents, children in the hands of teachers and school community.

•Schools need to adopt value-based curriculums in order to raise pupils self-esteem and confidence.

•Schools can provide a platform on which staff and pupils develop morally and ethically.

•repetition and reinforcement of the values words, across the curriculum, is important for reinforcing their meaning.

•The children learn to be polite, produce quality work, respect staff, parents, other people and they are well behaved

What is the Value of Multilingualism?

•We live in homes, schools, workplaces which are multicultural, multi-ethnic, multi-faith.

•Religions can often divide people but values unite them.

•We can all find respect and harmony by adopting a common set of values.

•Values transcend the boundaries of language and culture.

•The more languages one is able to use the more sets of values they can enjoy:

freedom, peace, unity, resilience, patience, esteem, care, joy, love, integrity, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (obwikaikamu), self-control, mindfulness, frugality, punctuality, orderliness.

 •Multilingualism promotes personal holistic competence.

What Soft Skills do we need?

•Soft skills include: communicative competence, relational trust, self and other awareness, resilience, agency and ethical intelligence.

•Mother Tongue should be enriched with soft skilling vocabulary.

•Soft skills play a central role in developing the mindset required by business leaders.

•These values, attitudes and behavioural traits are needed to solve complex personal, social and work related challenges

Compassion and Emotional Intelligence

•Value-based language helps in developing the compassion and emotional intelligence

•The ability to work effectively in relationship with others to meet important challenges relies on such intelligence.

•Relationships and qualities, such as compassion and emotional intelligence cannot be observed or exercised except in relationship with others

•in an ever-increasing complex world people need much of empathy.

In Conclusion

•Language vocabulary and practices that promote ethical and moral values build value-based societies.

Words like: Love, Peace, Trust, Respect, Care, Community, Empathy, Justice, Integrity, Responsibility, Compassion, Punctuality, Orderliness , Excellence, Selflessness , cleanliness, Enjoyment, Participation and Resilience

Avoid words that promote hatred, conflict , and destruction. Be reflective and gentle with words.

 •The goal of family, local councils , Language Boards, Curriculum developers, schools’ boards, writers, management committees, associations and policy makers is to develop, promote and model value-based vocabulary.

•In turn, this is to

promote high ethical and moral standards without borders in all business and professional activities.

Is you Mother Tongue on the Value-Based Society Train?

•Reflection is transformational power recommended by neuroscientists (Siegel, 2007)

•Body language and emotions have power to support self-reflection.

•Body language and emotions are based on the value systems in place.

•To strengthen our understanding of values, and to control their responses, we need to quietly reflect on what we think, say and do (See, Neil Hawkes and RI)

•Mother Tongue based Self- reflection leads to enjoying a happy and fulfilling life.

Mwekaza!

•Alakara nooi!

•Apwoyo totwal!

•Asante saana!

•Awadifor!

•Iyala manoinoi!

•Keita bwon!

•Mwebale inho!

•Gracias

•Wakoze chane chane!

•Wasigya kutsibu!

•Webale kimo!

•Webare monunga!

•Otyo muno!

•Thank you!

•Merci!

•…..

Reflect on the value-based language used with regards to older persons and challenges of ageing in Uganda?

What value-based language vocabulary in your MT do you use with regards to your children, older persons, spouse, workmates, public transport, house helpers, service providers, army, police, local leaders, politicians, school teachers, the other, persons with challenged life, relatives, friends, those who hate you etc. The more positive the language used, the more wealth and dignity you create.

OKWOGERA KWA MW. CHARLES MUWANGA KU LUNAKU LW'ENNIMI ENNANSI

Mw. Charles Muwanga (ku kkono) ng'alaga ekitabo kya ssaayansi kye yawandiika.

Mw. Charles Muwanga (ku kkono) ng'alaga ekitabo kya ssaayansi kye yawandiika.

OKWOGERA KWA MARGARET NANKINGA KU LUNAKU LW'ENSI YONNA OLW'ENNIMI ENNANSI

OLUNAKU LW'ENSI YONNA OLW'ENNIMI ENNANSI

OMULAMWA: ENNIMI ENNANSI N'OBUTUUZE MU NSI YONNA: ESSIR KU SSAAYANSI

FEBWALI 21 2015

Ebikwata ku Luganda-Lusoga-Lugwere Vehicular Language Commission

Nnyabo omugenyi waffe omukulu, abakulu okuva mu minisitule, abagenyi abayite, bassebo ne bannyabo.

Guno mukisa munene eri akakiiko ka Luganda- Lusoga- Lugwere okutegeka omukolo omutongole ogw’okukuza olunaku lw’ensi yonna olw’ennimi ennansi olusookedde ddala mu ggwanga. Olunaku luno lwatongozebwa ekibiina kya UNESCO ng’olunaku lw’ennimi ennansi mu 1999 Guno gwe mukolo omutongole ogusoose wano mu ggwanga.

Akakiiko ka Luganda- Lusoga- Lugwere  si kapya wano mu ggwanga kubanga kagenda kuweza omwaka bukya katondebwawo mu mwezi guno ogujja ogwa March. Kano kakiiko akaatondebwawo akakiiko k’omukago gwa Afrika, African Union ak’ebyennimi akayitibwa African Academy of Languages.

Akakiiko ka AU ak’ebyennimi kaatondebwawo mu mwaka 2006 nga guno omwaka abakulembeze ba Afrika baagutongoza nga omwaka gw’ennimi Enfirika oba ziyite ennansi mu Afrika. Olukuhhaana  lwatuula Khartoum olwo ofiisi z’akakkiko kano ak’ebyennimi mu Afrika ne zissibwa e Bamako, mu Mali.

Ekigendererwa ky’akakiiko kano ekikulu kwe kusobozesa ennimi za Afrika ennansi okukozesebwa okutumbula enkulaakulana nga zikolera wamu n’ennimi ze twasikira okuva ku bafuzi b’amatwale.

Okusobola okutambuza omulimu guno, African Academy of Languages bazze batondawo obukiiko mu Afrika yonna bubayambe mu kukulaakunya ennimi ennansi mu mawanga agatali gamu nga zikozesebwa mu mbeera zonna ez’obulamu mu Afrika, omuli n’ebyenjigiriza.

Mu nkola eno akakiiko ka Luganda- Lusoga- Lugwere gye kaatondebwawo mu lukuhhaana olwatuula e Kigali, Rwanda mu March w’omwaka oguwedde, 2014 ne kaweebwa obuvunaanyizibwa okutumbula n’okukulaakunya ennimi ennansi mu Uganda ku lwa African Academy of Languages.

Okusobola okukola kino, akakiiko kaaweebwa omulimu omukulu okusosonkereza gavumenti okussaawo ekitongole ekitumbula ennimi za Uganda ennansi, kiyite Academy of Uganndan Languages.

Okukitondawo kirina kuyita mu palamenti ne kikolerwa etteeka nga ffe omulimu gwaffe gwa kulaga minisitule mwe tugwa, ey’ekikula ky’abanti eby’emirimu n’enkulaakula z’abantu obukulu bw’okussaawo ekitongole kino ennimi za Uganda zonna zisobole okuganyulwa nga zikulaakulanyizibwa. Leero ennimi zaffe nnyingi tezirina mpandiika ntongole, endala zoolekedde kusaanawo ate n’entono ezirina empandiika entongole, yeetaaga kuddamu kuttaanyizibwa.

Bino byonna byetaaga eggwanga okussaawo ekitongole ky’ebyennimi ekinaalabirira ennimi zonna awatali kusaanyawo n’olumu kubanga ennimi zaffe zino ze ziterese amagezi n’empisa ezitufuula abatuuze mu ggwanga ne mu nsi abalungi era ab’obuvunaanyizibwa.

Waliwo ababadde babuuza lwaki Luganda- Lusoga- Lugwere so si nnimi ndala. Bano nze mbatunuza mu ngeri ekiswa gye kikolamu oba enseenene. Ekiswa oba enseenene nga zinaabuuka, wabaawo emu esooka okufuluma. Bw’eba nswa wano mu Buganda tugiyita mulalu. Eno esooka n’epima embeera eri ebweru, ebyokwerinda bwe biyimiridde era bw’eraba nga wonna kiri mulaala olwo ng’ebaguliza ku ndala zonna nga zibuuka era nnyingi ziraliira waggulu okusinga eri eyasoose okufuluma, n’endala ne zikola ebiswa ne zifuuka nnamunswa. Akakiiko nako kalinga nnamunswa nga kalian okutema empenda ezinaayamba ennimi endala zonna okusituka ng’omulimu omukulu gwa kusikiriza gavumenti okussaawo academe y’ennimi ennansi. Omulimu guno twagutandiseeko dda nga tuyita mu minisitule etutwala era tusaba nammwe mutwegatteko tulwanirire ekintu kino.

Akakiiko kalina bammemba mwenda wano ne mu Tanzania nga minisitule y’Ekikula ky’abantu y’ekakwataganya ne gavumenti era nga yakawa omukungu waayo Muky. Ruth Muguta y’aba abeera omukwanaganya wa pulogulaamu z’akakiiko ne gavumenti.

Omulamwa gw’olunaku luno ogw’ennimi ennansi n’obutuuze mu nsi yonna ng’essira gulissizza ku ssaayansi gujjidde mu kiseera kyennyini we tugwetaagira kubanga ffe nga akakiiko twatandise ku kaweefube w’okulaba nga tuwandiika ebitabo ebisomesa ssaayansi wa nasale ne pulayimale mu nnimi ennansi nga kino tukikola nga tukwatagana n’abawandiisi b’ebitabo bya ssaayansi.

Abantu bangi balowooza nti ssaayansi mugwira wano mu Afrika, ekitali kituufu kubanga bajjajjaffe baali baakuguka dda mu ssaayansi okusoma nga tekunnajja. Baali baasoma dda embeera z’ebisolo n’ebinyonyi ne babituuma amannya okusinziira ku mbeera zaabyo, baali baasoma dda ssaayansi w’ettaka ne bamanya kimera ki ekidda ku ttaka ki, baali baasoma dda ssaayansi w’ebimera n’eddagala ne bamanya kimera ki kijjanjaba ndwadde ki? Okugeza baakimanya nti singa onoga ebikoola by’omuddo ng’enkuba etonnya oba nga yaakatonnya oba nga bikyaliko omusulo, eddagala eryo teribaamu buka bwetaagisa ate nga kino ne bannasayansi ba leero bakimanyi. Noolwekyo si kituufu okugamba nti ssaayansi mugwira mu Afrika. Ekituufu kiri nti Ssaayansi tumusomesa mu nnimi engwira era kino kiremesezza abaana baffe okulowooza mu ssaayansi n’okuyiiya mu ssaayansi ne bakusuwaza bukusuwaza.

Akakiiko kalowooza nti bwe tunaawandiika obutabo obusomesa ssaayansi mu nnimi zaffe ennansi abaana baffe ze tubakulizaamu bajja kusobola okulowooza mu ssaayansi okuyiiya mu ssaayansi n’okukulaakulanya eggwanga mu ssaayansi kubanga bajja kuba bamuyingizza mu bulamu bwabwe obwa bulijjo. Noolwekyo tuyita abawandiisi bonna ab’ebitabo bya ssaayansi okutwegattako okukyusa ssaayansi asomesebwa mu masomero mu nnimi zaffe ennansi abaana baffe basobole okumuyingiza mu bulamu bwabwe obwa bulijjo, baleme kukusuwaza bukusuwaza

Twebaza abagenyi baffe mwenna abazze ku mukolo gun. Bwe twasazeewo okukuza olunaku luno, tetwabadde na bingi mu kigambo ky’ebyensimbi wabula kye twabadde nakyo mu bungi gwe mukwano gw’ennmi ennansi era twabadde tumanyi nti nammwe mugulina era gwe gubaleese wano olwaleero. Nsaba tugukozese okutumbula ennimi zaffe naddala mu bya ssaayansi era tuzeeyambise okutumbula eggwanga lyaffe.

Mwebale kumpuliriza bassebo ne bannyabo.

 Margaret Nankinga

Pulezidenti,

Luganda-Lusoga-Lugwere language commission.

(Translated in English)

INTERNATIONAL MOTHER TONGUE DAY, 2015

THEME: LOCAL LANGUAGES FOR GLOBAL

CITIZENSHIP: SPOTLIGHT ON SCIENCE

FEBRUARY 21ST 2015

Brief on Luganda-Lusoga-Lugwere Vehicular Language Commission

Presented by Margaret Nankinga

Our guest of honor, ministry officials, invited guests, ladies and gentlemen.

It is a great honor to host the first International Mother Tongue Day commemoration in Uganda. The Luganda- Lusoga -Lugwere commission is greatly honored to have hosted this ceremony today. This day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 but this is the first time that Uganda has a formal ceremony to celebrate this day.

The people who made this possible are the Luganda- Lusoga- Lugwere commission and it is only fair that you get to know who they are. Luganda- Lusoga –Lugwere is a commission of the African Academy of Languages which is also a commission of the African Union (AU).

The African Academy of Languages was founded in 2006 which was declared by the AU heads of state as the year of African languages, and its statutes adopted at the Khartoum Summit, with its headquarters in Bamako, Mali.

Its objectives include empowering African languages in general and Vehicular Cross-Border Languages in particular, in partnership with the languages inherited from colonization;

Another is to promote convivial and functional multilingualism at every level, especially in the education sector; and to ensure the development and promotion of African languages as factors of African integration and development, of respect for values and mutual understanding and peace

Tasked with fostering Africa’s integration and development through the development and promotion of the use of African languages in all domains of life in Africa, the academy has been moving allover Africa, establishing commissions that will help it fulfill this task.

Thus, in a conference held in Kigali Rwanda in March, 2014, The African Academy of Languages constituted the Luganda- Lusoga- Lugwere Language Commission as one of the vehicular cross-border language commissions in Africa to promote the use and development of local languages in Uganda. The commission has nine members in Uganda and Tanzania and its focal point is the ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development with Ms. Ruth Muguta as its focal person

To promote local languages in Uganda, the Luganda- Lusoga- Lugwere commission was tasked to network with Government to initiate the Academy of Ugandan Languages through which all Ugandan languages can be developed. This should be a public institution set up by an Act of parliament. The commission has started engaging the mother ministry of Gender, Labour and Social development we only hope that they will see the need for this and take it to another level.

Some people have been asking why Luganda, Lusoga Lugwere and not others but for me I compare the commission to a harbinger. When grasshoppers are about to invade an area, one of them comes out first and surveys the area to check its suitability before signaling others to come out.  It doesn’t mean that the first one will fly higher than others, but it is vital for it to come out first and prepare way for others. Such is the role of the Luganda Lusoga Lugwere to prepare the way for all Ugandan languages so that they can be used in all domains of life in Uganda.

Today’s theme: Local languages for global citizenship: spotlight on science has come timely as the commission has embarked on partnering with writers of science materials to write science textbooks for preprimary and primary in our local languages. We therefore call upon writers and stake holders to join us in this noble venture.

Many people today believe that science is foreign, which is not true because our great grandfathers knew and practiced a lot of science. They studied birds, plants and animals, naming them according to their characteristics. They studied soil science and knew which soil was fit for which plant. They studied plant medicine and knew which plant cured which disease, so it is not true that science is foreign. What is true is that we teach science in a foreign language and as a result, we cannot think scientifically in our languages, neither can we innovate scientifically. That is why the commission thinks that if we can write books that teach science in our local languages, our children will learn to think scientifically live scientifically, innovate scientifically and develop this country scientifically.

So we are very grateful to you for agreeing to come to celebrate the mother tongue day with this theme. When we decided to celebrate this day we didn’t have much in form of finances. But what we had in abundance was the love for local languages and we knew of people like us who had that love and that is you. So this ceremony has been made possible by love, the love for local languages and I pray that we use that love and use our languages to build a value based society.

Thank you our dear guest of honor, invited guests, ladies and gentlemen.

 Margaret Nankinga

President,

Luganda-Lusoga-Lugwere language commission.

Comments

Dr. Gulere Cornelius Wambi

14.11.2016 08:52

Language is our innate wealth. We live with it and leave with it -- Olulimi bwe buggaaga bwaffe obukusike. Tubeera nalwo era tugenda nalwo-- Olulimi n'ekyobugaiga ekikulu. Tuba nalwo twaja nalwo.

Latest comments

29.11 | 05:08

Nzjaako akatinko in English

30.10 | 17:22

Thanks for the updates.

19.10 | 20:16

Bamuyita batya

19.10 | 20:14

Kyayi mu luganda

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