ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the extent and degree of multilingualism in a nation and the problems arising from it, taking Uganda as an example. The past history of the establishment of Uganda as an independent nation plays an important part in understanding the present situation of language use and policy. The first European influence in Uganda came with the advent of the missionaries in 1877. When independence was achieved in 1962 the Kingdom of Buganda was granted federal status, with exclusive powers over its public services as well as powers over hereditary and ceremonial offices and other customary matters. In order to describe the degree of multilingualism in Uganda, it has been necessary to examine a number of levels of political and administrative organization. At each level it is possible to describe the degree of linguistic complexity and the resultant diglossia and individual bilingualism that is found.
