|
qkg:contextText
|
I want to say briefly that Uganda finds difficulties in identifying herself, and that Uganda has a serious language problem. Our present policy as a Government is to teach more and more English in schools. We are not unmindful of disadvantages inherent in this policy. We know that English, before Independence, was the language of the administrator. It was the language of the people who were rulers and by which Uganda was ruled. We know that many of our people learned English in order to serve in the Administration, at least to serve our former masters. It would appear that we are doing exactly the same; our policy to teach more English could in the long run just develop more power in the hands of those who speak English, and better economic status for those who know English. We say this because we do not see any possibility of our being able to get English known by half the population of Uganda within the next fifteen years. English, therefore, remains the national language in Uganda when at the same time it is a language that the minority of our people can use for political purposes to improve their own political positions. Some of our people can use it in order to improve their economic status.In spite of this reasoning, we find no alternative to English in Uganda's present position. We have, therefore, adopted English as our national language. (it) |
