The Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Gabula Nadiope, has launched the teaching of Lusoga at Makerere University, calling on Ugandans to embrace technology as a tool for preserving indigenous languages.
Speaking during International Mother Language Day celebrations at the university, the cultural leader said African languages must evolve alongside digital innovation to remain relevant for future generations.
“Indigenous languages are a preserved gift to the future and must thrive in the digital era,” the Kyabazinga said.
He emphasized that language preservation should not be confined to traditional spaces but extended to digital platforms, academic research and modern communication technologies.
Dr Aggrey Kibenge, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, underscored the collective responsibility required to safeguard local languages.
“Technology must supplement, not replace, our languages,” Dr Kibenge said, urging institutions and communities to integrate indigenous languages into digital systems without eroding their authenticity.
Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe pledged continued institutional support for the preservation and promotion of African languages.
“Language is a strong identity of people,” Prof Nawangwe said. “As a university, we are committed to advancing research and teaching that strengthens our cultural heritage.”
With the introduction of Lusoga, the language becomes the fourth local subject taught at Makerere, joining Luganda, Runyakitara and Luo.
Dr Gilbert Gumoshabe, Head of the Department of African Languages at Makerere, commended the Kyabazinga for championing Lusoga at the academic level.
He noted that formalising the study of Lusoga would help preserve Busoga’s cultural heritage and safeguard generational knowledge embedded in the language.
The launch marks a significant milestone in Uganda’s broader efforts to elevate indigenous languages within higher education and align cultural preservation with the demands of a rapidly evolving digital era.