Institute of Language Studies

Rev Prof. Manuel Muranga John Kamugisha
Director

Due to the regional cooperation under the East African Community, there is a need for teaching and learning of the languages spoken in the member countries; languages such as Kiswahili, French, and English, in order to ease trade, movement of people and human resource for the labour market. The need also exists in neighboring countries such as DRC. There is a necessity for international languages in order to work in the tourist industry and international bodies.

The UN languages such as Arabic, Spanish, and French are almost a must for language students at higher levels of learning. Chinese has recently gained prominence due to the fact that China has gained capacity as a world leader in trade. Runyakitara also has its place because it comprises of Bantu languages spoken in Western Uganda, Northwest Tanzania and Eastern DRC. Altogether the population that speaks these languages is estimated at 15 million. This is a big area population important for social-economic development.

The location of Kabale university, with such proximity with Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) provides a unique feature for business as well as cross-cultural exchange. The Knowledge of these languages is and will always be important to this region and the world at large.

Vision
To be the nucleus of language teaching and learning in Africa.

Mission
To teach, train, carry out research, provide a conducive environment for teaching and learning of national and international languages; and offer unique language-related services such as translation and interpretation.

Collaborations with other Universities.
Kabale University has a memorandum of understanding with Ngozi University of Burundi for a one-month student exchange programme in a linguistic perfection course. Students from Ngozi University come to Kabale University to perfect their English language and students from Kabale University go to Ngozi University to perfect their French language.

Director’s Message

Welcome to the Institute of Language Studies! Human life is not possible without language. Our languages are the best vehicles of our heritage from the past and of our communication in the present and the future. At Kabale University we believe in the importance of preserving and developing our own native languages, even as we believe in the importance of learning other people’s languages.

Thus, located as we are in south-western Uganda, we teach Runyakitara (or Rukiga, Runyankore, Rutooro, Runyoro and the other Ugandan, north-western Tanzanian and eastern Congolese languages that are highly mutually intelligible with these four), plus Swahili, English and French. But we are also considering opportunities to teach German and Chinese.

In each language discipline we teach the language itself, plus the literature of the speakers of that language, as well as other aspects of the life and culture of those people. Within each discipline we teach translation theory and practice since this skill is basic for communication in our multilingual and multicultural world. For those students who are committed to their studies and do well, there are many jobs in the multidimensional language industry both locally and globally.

For those who love their mother tongues and take them seriously, there are, besides teaching in secondary schools and tertiary institutions, opportunities in drama, journalism (newspaper, radio and television), translation, editing, writing, research in areas like lexicography (dictionary-making) and teaching mother tongue to foreigners. We want to “grow” our own Shakespeares, Charles Dickenses, etc. to complement what the Benedikto Mubangizi’s and Festo Karwemera’s have achieved.

We even want to be able to develop pure science, medical, engineering etc. textbooks and other works in our mother tongues. Language studies are some of the most exciting academic disciplines and they are a key to almost everything. The fact that the cross-cutting English communication proficiency course must be taken by each student in the University and even in all other universities in our country, no matter what they are studying, tells you why mastery in language is such an essential thing in determining success. Welcome to the world of languages!

Programmes

Programme	Category	Duration	Study time
Diploma in Kiswahili	Undergraduate Diplomas	2 Years	Fulltime

Departments

Administration

Rev Prof. Manuel Muranga John Kamugisha

Director

Dr. Phil. “German Literature (Goethe-Institute) German Teacher Training Seminary course, (Goethe Institute University of Munich.) B.A. (Hons.) with Diploma in Educ (Mak).

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Staff members

Rev Prof. Manuel Muranga John Kamugisha Professor	Dr. Phil. “German Literature (Goethe-Institute) German Teacher Training Seminary course, (Goethe Institute University of Munich.) B.A. (Hons.) with Diploma in Educ (Mak).	View Profile
Prof. Ruth Mukama Gimbo Professor	PhD. General Linguistics	View Profile
Dr. Constance Tukwasibwe Lecturer	PhD, Linguistics; M.A. Eng. Lang. Studies; B.A. Eng. Lang. & Hist,	View Profile
Dr. Ocan Johnson Lecturer-English	BA (Hons.), MA (TESOL), Ph.D. (Literature in English)	View Profile
Obuya Godwin Assistant Lecturer	Master of Arts in Literature,Bachelor of Arts with Education .	View Profile
Mwesige Felix Assistant Lecturer	M. Ling. French as Foreign Language; BA. Educ; Dip. Educ. Sec	View Profile
Tumusiime Agnes Administrative Officer	MAPAM; BOIM; Dip. Sec Ed	View Profile
Mutenyo Aidah Assistant Lecturer	PhD Candidate; Master of Kiswahili	View Profile
Majariwa David Assistant Lecturer	MA. Ling.; BA	View Profile
Tindyebwa Lillian Assistant Lecturer	MA. LIT; BA (HONS)	View Profile
Ariho Lucky Assistant Lecturer	MA. LIT; BA. ED	View Profile
Ndyanimanya Jackson Assistant lecturer	MA.Language Translation; BA. ED; DIP. ED	View Profile
Mulei Martin Assistant Lecturer	Ph.D(Kiswahili student at Maseno University- final stage), M.A (Kiswahili)- IUIU BAED(MAK):	View Profile
Natumanya Misah Assistant Lecturer	MPhil. Linguistics; BA. Runyakitara	View Profile
Tusimirwe Philbert Teaching Asssistant	Bachelor of Arts-Kiswahili-KAB-2019	View Profile
Awino Mary Teaching Assistant	BA. ED	View Profile
Kaitaba Maurice Teaching Assistant	BA. ED; DIP. French; Cert. French	View Profile
Labourday Ubaldo Teaching Assistant	MLIT (Cand); B.ED: DIP. ED	View Profile
Kyomukama Christine Teaching Assistant	MA. Linguistics (French); BA. Education (French); HETC; eLearning (French)	View Profile
Tusiime Medius Teaching Assistant	BA. Educ.	View Profile
Ainembabazi Norah Teaching Assistant	BA.	View Profile

Leadership Profile

Publications

J. Ocan, F. Ssempala & D.K Olema . (2019) . Postgraduate Research Engagement in Low Resource Settings . In: D.Z. Atibuni. Johannesburg : IGI Global Publisher of Timely Knowledge , pp. Pages: 353

Projects

No Projects found.

Student's Research

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Contact Information

Email Address: directoriols@kab.ac.ug
Phone Contacts:

Institute of Language Studies