Article 6 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda: An Exploration of a Language Policy and Planning Process in a Multilingual African Country

Prosperous Nankindu

doi:10.37284/eajass.9.1.4440

Prosperous Nankindu, PhD Kyambogo University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37284/eajass.9.1.4440

Keywords: Language policy, Language planning, Constituent Assembly, Constitution, Official language

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Abstract

This paper, through archival research, publishes the language policy of Uganda, which is stated in the 1995 Constitution of the country. The paper made a Critical Discourse Analysis of the drafting history of the Constitution. The debate by the Constituent Assembly delegates, who drafted the constitution, clearly indicated a lack of harmony on the language issue. The delegates concluded that the former colonial language, English, is the official language of Uganda, a state of affairs in almost all countries which were under British rule. The study concludes that the key principles of the constitution, unity, peace, equality and freedom, cannot be achieved through the recommended media of communication in official capacities and in schools.

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