Acholi interpreters and translators for asylum solicitors, NHS trusts, councils and charities anywhere in the UK, with face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Acholi and English, and bookings accepted 24/7.
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Acholi interpreting services
The Acholi spoken in South Sudan is close to that of Gulu, Kitgum and the other northern Ugandan districts, though speakers from the South Sudanese side may mix in Arabic words. Neighbouring Luo languages such as Lango and Alur are near enough that speakers can often converse, but Dinka and Nuer, although distant cousins, are not understood by an Acholi speaker. Consecutive interpreting suits almost every appointment. For interviews about the war years, it helps to tell the interpreter in advance what will be discussed, so they can prepare the vocabulary for rebel ranks, camps and military operations and stay steady when the account is hard to hear.
Face-to-face interpreting
The interpreter comes to you: a hospital ward, a courtroom, a council office, a home visit or a business meeting. It is the best choice when people need to read expressions as well as words, or when the conversation is long or sensitive.
Telephone interpreting
The quickest option to set up. It works well for short calls, triage, appointment reminders and quick checks with a client.
Video interpreting
A Acholi interpreter joins by video for remote hearings, consultations and meetings, which helps when there is no interpreter near you.
We also provide medical interpreting and conference interpreting.
Certified Acholi translation
Uganda issues its birth certificates, school certificates and court papers in English, so those rarely need an Acholi translator. What does come to us in Acholi is testimony: handwritten letters, church and clan documents, statements from relatives back home, and audio or video recordings for an appeal bundle. Every translator we use works into their native language, and a certified English translation can be supplied for the Home Office, a tribunal or a court.
Acholi writing has settled conventions but plenty of informal variation, especially in text messages. We copy names exactly as the person's identity document spells them.
- Certified translation of birth, marriage and death certificates, passports, driving licences, degree certificates and bank statements, for the Home Office, courts, universities and employers.
- Legal translation: witness statements, court bundles, contracts and immigration papers.
- Document translation of medical reports, letters, leaflets and patient information.
- Urgent translation when a deadline is close.
- Transcription of Acholi audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Acholi translation
The Acholi Bible and decades of church publishing have given the language a familiar written standard, and that is the style to use for health leaflets, consent forms or letters from a school. Many older readers, particularly those whose schooling was cut short by the war, read slowly, so plain wording and short paragraphs matter more than elegant phrasing. Tell us who the readers are and whether an audio version would help.
Acholi court and police interpreters
In UK courts and tribunals Acholi is mostly needed for asylum appeals, and sometimes for family or criminal proceedings. We look for Acholi interpreters with legal experience, and where interpreters exist for Acholi with the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI), those come first. A judge can be asked to allow the interpreter to join by video when no one is available to travel.
How to book an Acholi interpreter
- Tell us about the assignment: the date, time and address, or that you need telephone or video; how long it should last; and what it is for, such as a hospital appointment, a hearing or a business meeting.
- Tell us about the speaker: their country or region and, if you know it, their dialect. Mention any preference for a male or female interpreter.
- Get your quote. We email you a quote, with no obligation to book.
Call 0800 2425 125, email info@uklinguisticservices.co.uk or request a quote online.
About the Acholi language
Acholi is a Western Nilotic language of the Luo group, spoken mainly in northern Uganda and South Sudan.
Acholi is written in the Latin alphabet.
| Name in Acholi | Leb Acoli |
|---|---|
| Language family | Western Nilotic language of the Luo group |
| Where it is spoken | Northern Uganda and South Sudan |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | ach |
Related languages
Acholi interpreters near you
We send Acholi interpreters to appointments across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and telephone and video interpreting work wherever you are. Choose a town for its local page.
Acholi interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book an Acholi interpreter?
We take bookings 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Telephone and video interpreting are usually the quickest to arrange. For a face-to-face appointment, give us as much notice as you can: same-day cover is often possible, but it depends on where you are and how many Acholi interpreters work nearby.
How much does an Acholi interpreter cost?
The price depends on the type of interpreting (face-to-face, telephone or video), how long the appointment lasts, where it is and how much notice you give. We quote before anything is booked, and quotes are free: call 0800 2425 125 or use our online quote form.
Can you certify Acholi translations for a UK visa or immigration application?
Yes. We translate and certify documents such as birth and marriage certificates, passports and police certificates for visa, settlement and citizenship applications. UK Visas and Immigration asks for each translation to confirm that it is accurate and to show the date and the translator's full name, signature and contact details, so tell us when you order that the document is for an immigration application.
Do you provide Acholi interpreters for courts, tribunals and police interviews?
Yes. Tell us the setting when you book, for example a Crown Court trial, an immigration tribunal hearing or a police interview under caution, so we can match an Acholi interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
