In early July 2009 the leading Internet search engine and software services company, Google, Inc., introduced an interface that allows users to access their search tools in Luganda. Unfortunately, about 50% of the translations are only literal, and semantically incorrect. Since July 27, 2009, thirty five (35) Baganda have contacted Buganda Post by email to complain about the abuse of their language by Google. Some of the upset Baganda see this abuse of their language as another assault on their culture by foreigners at the same time that Museveni’s government is character assassinating their Kabaka.

One London resident named Nakibuuka even suggested that Mmengo, Ekibiina ky’Olulimi Oluganda (Luganda Language Society) and Makerere University Luganda department should protest to Google, Inc. for their racist approach to black people. She asks: “Would Google accept a Hebrew platform that was translated by a team of Arabs? If it is not ‘all black people are the same’ racism, how come Google used a team of translators none of whom is a Muganda? It is time for Baganda to deal with Museveni, Northerners, Banyankore, Iteso and even Google aggressively if they continue to ridicule our Kabaka and other pillars of our Buganda nation. Doing nothing is surrendering to these guys to decide what broken Luganda our Baganda children will learn.”

When we checked out the Luganda Google site, http://www.google.com/intl/lg/, there was evidence why some Baganda are angry that their language had been butchered so badly. Evidently, the translators primarily relied on and English-to-Luganda dictionary and casual knowledge of the language to create Google’s new Luganda platform. For example, “Advanced Search” was translated to “Enonya eya Wagulu”, which is not only spelt wrong but is a poor approximation of the semantic meaning. Equally ridiculous is the translation of “Language Tools” to “Ebikozesa ebya Olulimi”. Even worse is the translation of “Groups” to “Ebibinjja” (which means “gangs” or “armies”, when correctly spelt).

According to a source at the Makerere University Luganda Language Institute, Google was conned by unscrupulous Iteso and Banyakore and sold a fake translation. The sources pointed Buganda Post to an article written by one Rwandese, Denis Gikunda , at http://sites.google.com/site/gwscommunitytranslation/uganda, which identifies the individuals that Google trusted with translating a highly nuanced Luganda language, which has existed for more than 1,000 years. According to Gikunda’s story the team that created Google’s Luganda platform includes:  Jonathan Gosier (unclear nationality), Emmanuel Oluka (Acholi or Langi), James Olweny (Iteso), Barbara Birungi (Munyankore), James Nabireeba (Munyankore) and Jerry Opollot (Iteso). Luganda is not the mother tongue to any of the translators.

Solomon Kyabayinze Mpalanyi, one of Buganda’s foremost novelists and Luganda language experts is dead. According to family sources, Omutaka Mpalanyi died from a spike in his blood pressure which could not be controlled at the run down Mulago Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 8:00 PM on February 2, 2009. Mpalanyi has been part of the generation of exceptional Baganda literary masters who are credited for creating Buganda’s popular novel industry. The most famous of his books is Basajja Mivule, followed by Ndikumma Okulya (Nenkulyoowa Omwooyo). He also wrote Ssanyu Teribeerera, Nnaku Teba Y’omu and a few others.

The family sources add that Omutaka Mpalanyi’s health has been generally alright. And that the high blood pressure attack occurred when he was in his farm at Kabuwambo, Ssingo county. He has been teaching Luganda at Nkumba University and Lubiri High School in Kabaka’s Palace. He has also been an active member and former secretary of Ekibiina Ky’Olulimi Oluganda (Luganda Language Society).

Solomon Mpalanyi was born in Ssekanyonyi, Magala, Ssingo county. He attended Nnabagereka Primary School and Mityana Junior School before going to King’s College Buddo, Nagalabi, Busiro county. After Buddo, he joined Kyambogo Teachers’ Training College where he qualified as a high school teacher and soon joined the East African Community Printing Office. In 1968 Omutaka Mpalanyi joined London University for post-graduate studies in literary and publishing studies.

Sources in Washington DC have informed us by email that the Baganda Community in the USA capital and other cities have take the news very hard. Omutaka Mpalanyi was popular with friends of his son William Mpalanyi who lived in Washington DC for several years. And he was also remembered for his presence and brief but very impressive presence at Ttabamiruka ’07. The late Omutaka Solomon Mpalanyi is survived by number of children and grandchildren.