KAB Set to Host CHAKAMA International Conference

CHAKAMA is an acronym for Chama Cha Kiswahili Afrika Mashariki. CHAKAMA is an East African Association of Kiswahili scholars that started way back in 2002. The idea was born by East Africa Kiswahili lectures from different higher institutions of Learning across East Africa. The inaugural meeting was held on 7/7 2002 in the workshop that took place at Eland Hotel in Arusha Tanzania.  The main objective was to promote Kiswahili and bring together all lectures who teach Kiswahili in both public and private Universities in East Africa.

Among the many achievements of the association is: starting up a journal, writing the constitution, developing a logo, constituting executive members from all partner states of East Africa, writing a proposal for Kiswahili to be taught in all secondary schools, official registration, collaboration with other stakeholders and laying a foundation for CHAWAKAM which is an association of Kiswahili students in East Africa. The association is part of the associations recognized within East Africa. Conferences are organized bi-annually in every member country depending on the home country of the sitting chairperson. From its inception, we have had the following chairpersons:

Following the trends above, Uganda has only hosted once CHAKAMA International Conference at Pope Paul Memorial Hotel in Kampala. By then there were few scholars of Kiswahili in Uganda. Hosting CHAKAMA international conference in Kabale is very historical as the day coincides with 7/7 that was declared to be celebrated every year by UNESCO. In addition to that, Kiswahili has now gained its mandate with the Establishment of the Kiswahili commission and its usage as a language of wider communication and beyond. As we celebrate its 20 years of existence let’s embark on collaboration, sensitization research and promotion of Kiswahili in Uganda and other partner states.

Mutenyo Aidah
(Chairperson CHAKAMA.)