Thousands of delegates from the East African Community are converging at the Kololo Independence grounds in the outskirts of Kampala city in Uganda to attend the 2025 International Kiswahili Conference which started today.
The 3-day conference, which will culminate on the 16th of this month, is being held in Uganda for the first time in history.
Organised by the Afrika Mashariki Fest,the conference brings together stakeholders, among them Kiswahili university lecturers, book authors, journalists and leaders, to celebrate the growth and promote the use of the Kiswahili language.
Uganda was handed over the hosting of this year’s edition during last year’s edition in Havana, Cuba.
Among the Swahili dignitaries from Kenya attending the conference are renowned author and teacher Mwalimu Walah Bin Wallah Kenyan author Pauline Keya,Nigerian author Christian Uche and Professor PLO Lumumba, among others.
The biggest challenges facing the growth of the language include the use of the Sheng language, lack of full support from the EAC leader and prioritising it as a language of integration.
The theme for this year’s conference is ’embracing Kiswahili, a political and economic imperative for Africa’s renaissance.’
Delegates from Tanzania, Kenya,Ethiopia,Nigeria,South Sudan, DR Congo and host Uganda are attending the conference.