By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: The inaugural memorial lecture of Professor Livingstone Walusimbi was held at Makerere University on February 27, 2025, to celebrate his remarkable legacy in promoting African languages and culture. The event, themed “Building Sustainable Futures: Bridging Professor Walusimbi’s Linguistic Legacy with Digital Transformation,” brought together distinguished guests, academics, students, and media representatives.
The former Katikkiro of Buganda, Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere, expressed his delight at being part of the inaugural lecture, praising Professor Walusimbi as a great man and personal friend who selflessly promoted African languages and culture.
Ssemwogerere emphasized the importance of preserving and teaching African languages, noting that they define who Africans are and play a vital role in socio-economic transformation.
Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, lauded Professor Walusimbi as a visionary scholar who transformed Ugandan and African linguistics.
Nawangwe noted that Professor Walusimbi’s academic achievements and contributions to Makerere University have had a lasting impact on the institution and the nation.
Professor Muyinda Birevu, representing Professor Mugagga Anthony Muwagga, Principal College of Education and External Studies, honored Professor Walusimbi’s legacy, highlighting his contributions to establishing the Department of Humanities and Language Education, promoting mother tongue education, and mentoring future generations.
Dr. Alice Nabalamba, daughter of Professor Livingstone Walusimbi, expressed her deepest gratitude for the inaugural memorial lecture, noting that it was a win not only for their family but also for Uganda and African languages.
Professor Fred Masagazzi Massazi, the Chairperson Organizing Committee, welcomed guests to the inaugural lecture of Professor Livingstone Walusimbi, a renowned scholar who contributed significantly to the development of African languages. Prof. Walusimbi set a standard that Makerere is leveraging to date.
The lecture emphasized the importance of promoting African languages, preserving cultural heritage, and taking languages to the digital space. Panelists praised Professor Livingston’s contributions to language education, including introducing Luganda at Makerere University and developing curricula for mother tongue education.
One of the panelists noted, “We should promote languages in bulk, rather than focusing on one language. This includes promoting Uganda languages, such as Luganda, alongside other languages like Kiswahili.”
Ms. Margaret Nankinga, Coordinator of Luganda, Lusoga, and Lugwere languages at the Academy of African Languages – African Union and a keynote speaker, emphasized the importance of promoting African languages to bring out the best in people. “We need to be innovative and creative in using African languages,” she said.
Nankinga added, “The current policies hinder the use of African languages, creating a form of gagging. We need to improve policies to support African languages.” She also emphasized the need to take African languages to the digital space to make them more accessible and promote their use.
Panelists recommended promoting languages in bulk, taking languages to the community, and teaching computers local languages. They also noted that translation is key to mastering language and making it a part of one’s soul. Growing indigenous languages through translation and promoting their use was also emphasized.
Another commented that policies will follow naturally as languages grow, and the focus should be on using and promoting indigenous languages. Teaching machines local languages was discussed, with the need for millions of examples from various fields to enable machines to learn and improve their understanding of local languages.
The inaugural memorial lecture of Professor Livingstone Walusimbi celebrated his remarkable legacy in promoting African languages and culture. As we remember him, we are inspired to continue his work, promoting African languages, and preserving cultural heritage for future generations. His legacy will continue to inspire and transform Ugandan and African linguistics.