Uwezo Uganda recently participated in
the International Mother Language Day 2026 celebrations, held on February, 20th,
2026 at Makerere University. The event, organised by the College of Humanities
and Social Sciences, School of Languages, Literature and Communication
Department of African Languages in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender,
Labour and Social Development, brought attention to the importance of mother
tongue education.
At the event, Uwezo Uganda exhibited and shared its 2024 assessment report findings (Uwezo 2024: p21), revealing a concerning decline in local language reading levels. The report shows a drop in P3-P7 pupils' ability to read and understand P2-level story in all four local languages that were assessed (Leblango, Luganda, Lusoga and Runyakore-Rukiga) (Figure 1), implying a weak foundation and posing a challenge to children’s further learning.
Figure 1
Overall, proficiency levels dropped
from 31.9% in 2021 to 19.3% 2024.
His Royal Highness William Wilberforce
Gabula Nadiope IV, the Kyabazinga of Busoga, graced the occasion as Guest of
Honour. He emphasised the significance of learning in one's first language,
stating that it enables children to grasp other languages more easily.
The event also highlighted Uganda's
rich multilingual landscape, with over 40 indigenous languages spoken across
the country. The government has acknowledged the importance of mother tongue
education, with policies in place to promote instruction in local languages up
to Primary Three.
To address this issue, experts recommended increased investment in local language instruction, enhanced teacher training, and provision of adequate learning materials. The National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) is working on identifying feasible languages for early primary instruction, with 26 local languages proposed for use in schools.
