East African Gazette
Kampala
A new application(software) that converts the Luganda language text into audio for the benefit of People with Visual Impaired (PWVIs) has been developed.
The application dubbed “Luganda Neural Text-to-Speech (LNTS) system for Health promotion and Accessibility’ has been developed by researchers led by Ronald Kizito the project’s co-principal investigator, at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology, (CEDAT) Makerere University.
An “application,” is a type of software that can be installed and run on a computer, tablet, smartphone or other electronic devices.
The application was launched on Wednesday at, (CEDAT) Makerere University shortly after Kizito explained the tool will benefit people who understand Luganda but cannot read Luganda text because of visual impairments, illiteracy, or physical disability hindering readability
![](https://eastafricangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/launch-of-app-2-1024x678.jpg)
Apparently, people with Visual Impureness use Braille , a reading and writing system for vision impaired people. It is made up of raised dots that can be ‘read’ by touch.
Kizito explained the project is co implemented by the ministry of health under the department of health, promotion, education and communication, which communicates health public health campaigns, health education, between doctor and patient to influence personal health choices by improving health literacy.
Kizito intimated researchers expect to build similar software applications in the other languages of Uganda. The project is funded by the Uganda Government through the Makerere Research and Innovation Fund (Mak RIF).
Kizito said other ministries and Agencies like Agriculture, Animal industry MAIIF) can use the same APP to disseminate its information.
He elaborated that the Application will be installed and applauded on the people’s laptops and desk computers for punctuality.
Kizito said: “The Application is waiting to be satisfied by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) a body responsible for the preparation, adoption of Standards and the application of Conformity Assessment procedures such as Inspection, Testing, Certification and Accreditation.
He said: “In Uganda, Luganda is the most spoken native language. It is used for communication in informal and formal business transactions.
Kizito explained the development of technology startups globally related to ‘Text To Speech (TTS)’ has mainly been with languages like English, French, German, among others. These are added in TTS engines by Google, Microsoft among others, allowing developers in these regions to innovate TTS products.
Kizito added “Apparently Luganda language is not supported because the language is not built and trained on these engines. In this study, we analyzed the Luganda language structure and constructions and then proposed and developed a Luganda TTS. The system was built and trained using locally sourced Luganda language text and audio. The engine will be able to capture Luganda text and reads it aloud,”
Other who helped the formation of the Luganda Application are: Dr Saudah Namyalo Dean. School of Languages, Literature and Communication SLLC (MAK). Deo Kawalya, SLLC, School of, (MAK), Jonathan Sserugunda Chairman, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
“The App can convert Luganda language text into Speech at a very high speed in a few hours. A Volume of a Luganda Novel of 100 pages can be translated from text to speech in three hours, compared to a human being who takes a month to translate the same,” said Kizito.
He said, some visually-impaired people currently use English language screen readers like JAWS, to read Luganda text documents. Unfortunately, this leads to errors and poor understanding of the Luganda text.
He said People with visual impairments can now listen to volumes of Audial or Speech of Luganda language in a short time compared to reading using braille.
The Application dubbed for Health promotion and Accessibility’ the system uses Artificial Intelligence (AI). Steven Wyne Okello a researcher of the (LNTS) says ‘(AI) has been used in applications, is a general-purpose technology that has been used in fields of language translation, image recognition, credit scoring, electronic -commerce and other domains.
Kizito quoted “Statistics from the Uganda Burue of Standards indicates a total of 17m Ugandans country wide who can understand Luganda language but some of them may not be able to read and write it, thus they the Application will benefit them
Kizito is also a Lecturer, Electrical and computer engineering department. have developed a novel software application that converts Luganda text into Luganda speech.
Luganda is the first local language that was tested because it has more digitized text, it’s well understood by the researchers and is the most studied local language in the country.
Luganda is the first local language that was tested because it has more digitized text, it’s well understood by the researchers and is the most studied local language in the country. The team of researchers expect to build similar software applications in the other local languages country wide. The project is funded by the Uganda Government through the Makerere Research and Innovation Fund (MakRIF).
Kizito said the artificial neural networks is a method in artificial intelligence that teaches computers to process data in a way that is inspired by the human brain , it will create synthetic Luganda language speech that sounds natural and is intelligible. Adding that electronic booklets would be connected into audiobooks and the SMS text read out loud allowing more Luganda health tips sent by the ministry of health beneficiaries, including medica workers, researchers, edcatinalists, policy makers who use the developed tools
Ministry of healthy speaks out
Sharminah Kauma Senior Sociologist ministry of health department of health, promotion, education and communication said apparently the Application will be taken to the ministry of health to carry out a pre testing,
“ The application will reduce the expenditure the ministry of health has been spending a lot of money to translate Luganda languages into speech manually in different districts, however the costs will reduce, when the App is introduced. the department of Research, Monitoring Evaluation and then at a later stage it will be presented for final approval.
PWDS Speak out
Alex Ndeezi, a legislator representing people with disabilities (Central region) in an interview said : “ Such computer programs programs/ apps already exist in major international languages like English. In fact, our very own Margaret Baba Diri former Koboko District woman MP uses a similar Application.
Ndeezi added “ If our own people at Makerere have initiated the app in Luganda, that is very good news. I commend the researcher for the initiative. It will help to enhance access to information by persons with visual disabilities. This in turn will enhance their access to information on opportunities for development available in society; and enhance participation in social, political and economic development,”
: “I would advise that since the app is new, we need a period for piloting it before it can be used in sensitive areas like courts, banking, general, elections,” Ndeezi said
Beatrice Guzu, the Former executive secretary of National Council for Disability (NCD), says: “Iam a person with a visual impairment and a member of the NCD, i welcome the new innovation of the Application, because it will easy our communication with others. since it has been developed by our own Ugandans, I do support it,”