Re: ugnet_: Extend use of Swahili

[J Ssemakula]

Given that:

1. English is the official language of each of the 3 countries in question and that it is used the world over
2. Swahili is hardly used or understood by a large portionof Uganda, over 50% in terms of population
3. Swahili is controversial in Uganda
4. Uganda would have to spend millions of dollars to train teachers to teach Swahili
5. Lack or poor of Swahili knowledge has never hindered trade between Uganda and Kenya (with the latter benefitting the most, for reasons that have nothing to do with Swahili whatsoever)
6. In spite of a common language, the border between Kenya and Tanzania was closed for much of the 70s and 80s

Why make a complicated situation worse, by get entangled in language issues? Unless, of course, there is a hidden agenda here.


----Original Message Follows----
From: "J Oracha" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: ugnet_: Extend use of Swahili
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 08:52:14 -0600

> More importantly, now that we have resurrected the East African Community
we
> need a common medium of communication with the citizens of Tanzania and
Kenya.

I don't think you understand the people of Kenya Uganda and Tanzania. There
is no way you can break them apart. Since these people have been united
without the force of government, no government can put them asunder. The
peoples relationship has transcended the so called national boundaries. The
East African Community was based on what already existed, that is the
community of the people of Kenya Uganda and Tanzania. In other words,
whenever people communicate among themselves, there is an understanding that
no government can mess with. In fact the very lack of one unitary
government between the three states made it better for the people to
fashion their own undesratanding and method of living symbiotically.
That is what is enduring.

Oracha


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