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Mozilla plans Luganda web search Firefox translated into Luganda
(about 3 hours later)
Web browser Mozilla Firefox has launched a project in Uganda to translate its searches into the local Luganda language. African software and language experts have launched a project to translate Mozilla's Firefox web browser into the local Ugandan language of Luganda.
Once complete, it will enable Luganda speakers to search, or "wenja" in Luganda, on the internet. The project aims to increase the number of non-English speakers using computers particularly in rural areas of Uganda.
About five million Ugandans speak Luganda, the most widely spoken language after English and Kiswahili. If successful, Firefox will be the first computer programme to have been translated into Luganda.
The Baganda are the largest of Uganda's almost 40 ethnic groups, making up more than 16% of the population. About five million Ugandans speak Luganda, the most widely spoken language after English and Swahili.
The project is being undertaken in collaboration with Uganda's Makerere University, South Africa's Rhodes University and Translate.org.za, a non-profit organisation.
Basic wordsBasic words
The BBC's Joshua Mmali in the capital, Kampala, says 120 software engineers and 120 language specialists held a one-day workshop in the capital, Kampala, to work on the project. The initiative to translate Firefox into Luganda is being led by Uganda's Makerere University, South Africa's Rhodes University and Translate.org.za, a non-profit organisation.
Basic words have been translated into Luganda in the first stages of the month-long project, our correspondent says. The BBC's Joshua Mmali in Kampala says 120 software engineers and 120 language specialists were invited to a two-day workshop to collaborate on the project this week.
So far, some basic words have been translated into Luganda, our correspondent says.
Venacious Baryamureba, the dean of Makerere's Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, said the project would increase the number of people using computers in Uganda.Venacious Baryamureba, the dean of Makerere's Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, said the project would increase the number of people using computers in Uganda.
"Everything is available in English and there are people who know Luganda, who can read Luganda but cannot read English. So it's a step towards localising most of these things into local content." "Everything is available in English and there are people who know Luganda, who can read Luganda but cannot read English. So it's a step towards localising most of these things into local content," he said.
Our correspondent says Ugandans are looking forward to using Luganda and other local languages to search for information on the internet.Our correspondent says Ugandans are looking forward to using Luganda and other local languages to search for information on the internet.
Microsoft launched its Windows and Office software in Kiswahili - which is spoken by more than 110 million people across eastern and central Africa - in 2005. Microsoft launched its Windows and Office software in Kiswahili (Swahili) - which is spoken by more than 110 million people across eastern and central Africa - in 2005.
Language experts from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zanzibar as well as the Great Lakes and the Democratic Republic of Congo developed a common glossary for the software.Language experts from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zanzibar as well as the Great Lakes and the Democratic Republic of Congo developed a common glossary for the software.