Languages of Uganda

Languages of Uganda
Warning sign in Luganda, English and Swahili
Official	English and Swahili
National	Luganda
Recognised	Southern Luo, Lugbara, Runyankole, Lusoga, Ateso
Vernacular	Luganda, Ugandan English
Minority	many Bantu and Nilo-Saharan languages; Nubi
Signed	Ugandan Sign Language
Keyboard layout	QWERTY

In Uganda the most spoken language in the capital city is Luganda, followed by English (also the official language since 1962), as all schools in Uganda use it in their studies due to the introduction of English during the colonial period. English is also the language of business and judicial matters.^[1] Most spoken after Luganda and English is Swahili.^[1] This language is more common in neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania. Swahili is taught in schools as an optional additional language and it is mostly spoken by the Ugandan army. In 2005, there were talks to include Swahili as the second official language as it was seen as neutral, however this is still not ratified by the government.^[1] Swahili is used among some communities bordering South Sudan and Kenya.^[2]

Uganda is a multilingual country with over 70 generally estimated languages spoken. 43 of its living languages^[3] fall into four main families—Bantu, Nilotic, Central Sudanic and Kuliak. Of these, 41 are indigenous and 2 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 5 are institutional, 27 are developing, 7 are established, 2 are endangered, and 2 are almost extinct. There is also a Ugandan Sign Language.