Sunbird Translate

About

Sunbird AI’s translation tool is an open-source system that leverages neural machine translation to automatically convert text between English and five Ugandan languages: Acholi, Ateso, Luganda, Lugbara, and Runyankole, making digital content and essential information accessible to millions of speakers of underrepresented languages in Uganda and the broader region.

Impact

The tool has enabled government agencies, NGOs, and local communities to communicate more effectively, improved access to public health and educational materials, and fostered digital inclusion for marginalized language groups. By bridging language barriers, Sunbird AI’s translation tool supports civic participation, public service delivery, and the preservation of linguistic diversity in Uganda.

Responsible AI practices

Sunbird AI ensures responsible AI by engaging local language experts in dataset creation, prioritizing transparency in model development, and releasing the tool as open source for community oversight. The project emphasizes data privacy, continuous evaluation for bias, and inclusive design to ensure translations are culturally relevant, accurate, and ethically produced for all users.