Phase one of training Kiswahili language has ended at the NRM headquarters with a revelation by the party Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong that learning the language opens more opportunities for the learners within the East African regional countries.
Todwong was yesterday Wednesday speaking to members of the public at NRM offices at Kyadondo Road, Nakasero as they completed the first semester of Kiswahili language training and the art of public speaking.
“And I am happy that you have taken the time to learn because this is expanding your opportunities in the region. You can go to Kenya and get a job. You can go to Tanzania and apply for something,” Todwong said in his speech.
“You learnt the basics of counting, greetings and other fundamentals and I am sure the next semester which begins in January will be more interesting,” Mr. Todwong said as he encouraged the learners to return for the second phase.
Todwong commended the learners for sparing time to attend saying “Learning will never end as long as you are a human being. The dreams you have are part of life. It is a bonus to learn an additional language to your original language.”
“The more languages you speak, the better you are in terms of competition, knowledge, and terms of interaction. So you might be speaking Luganda so well or English and now you have added Kiswahili and any other good language,” he emphasized.
Internationally now, people are learning French, German, Italian, Chinese and others to ease trade and movement. “But within the region, Kiswahili is the most important language you should learn,” Todwong said.
The NRM Central Executive Committee member and Minister of State for Defense, Hon. Huda Oleru encouraged the learners to seize the opportunity of speaking the regional language to enjoy the benefits of regional integration like trade. “You are doing the best thing and don’t regret your time as you attend these classes.”
The NRM Director of Finance and Administration, Hajjat Medina Naham was excited to describe the learners as good cadres who will always be deployed to mobilise for support. “You are now part of the NRM and you will be called upon soon and deployed on party missions.”
Ideological clinic
In the afternoon after the Kiswahili lesson, the public who turned up in big numbers for the ideological clinic class were thrilled with recounts of NRM child-freedom fighters (kadogos) in the jungles of Luwero.
On the topic “The story of the people’s protracted struggle: a Kadogo’s perspective of Uganda’s liberation struggle, Maj (Rtd) Awich Pollar, a former Kadogo said many joined as they sought refuge because their parents were killed by Obote forces.
He said that their roles in the bush stretched from cooking, and washing for their commanders among others, the sacrifices Awich is happy about.
“In the eyes of the Kadogos it was worth the struggle, it was well executed, and the suffering was a sweet suffering because the country was liberated from bad governance.” Maj. Awich said.
He praised President Museveni who was the NRA commander as the only guerilla leader in the entire world, who was pro-people and fought very hard to protect civilians during the war against torture by government forces.
From the bush after victory, Awich narrates that Kadogos was released from the army and sent to school to get a formal education.
He is now a lawyer who has served up to the United Nations and currently serves as the Director of External Affairs for the NRM party.