Runyankore/Rukiga New Translation Launch

You may remember that Compass Braille transcribed the Bible in this Ugandan language in 2020. The translation used then was the 1964 version. In 2023 we were asked to transcribe the 2008 New Revised Joint Translation. This version uses more modern language and includes deuterocanonical books and so can be distributed within schools and institutions which the previous translation could not. Both versions will continue to be available in braille. The transcription was completed within a couple of months and 2 complete copies were sent to Uganda in time for a launch event in November. A video surrounding the event was produced by the Bible Society of Uganda. If you are on Facebook you can access it on their page. Here are some quotes from various people featured in the video:

Serumaga Peter Lumbuya (General Secretary The Bible Society of Uganda): “We are excited that this Bible will communicate to the people who cannot read with the eyes the rest use, those who feel the Word of God using their hands. … It helps them also in education. It will be used for literacy, those who teach using the braille and it also helps the people to feel that they are part of the community and, instead of pushing them aside because they cannot see, they will also feel included. And this will increase their spiritual life and their scripture reading so they will be part of the community as they are informed and reading the message God wants them to receive.”

A young blind woman: “I am happy because the Bible Society has provided us with the Bible. This Bible will help me to perform in class to master the spellings very well and even to know God.”

A teacher of visually impaired children: “We the teachers have been struggling to bring for them the Word of God, sometimes even omitting some words. But now these braille Bibles will help them because they just read them directly, no mistakes. Any time they want to read they will read it. And they love the Word of God. Just listening to other people reading for them has been a challenge but when they are reading for themselves then it becomes easy and they also master what they want to master.”

A blind man: “Anyone can be an evangelist and some of us now that we are able to read, in addition to the English version (the Bible that we have been having in braille) now Runyankore is coming, I think we are going to be able to share the Word of God extensively with even those others who did not go to school.”