“French Opens Doors ” as Francophonie month is Launched

KAMPALA – When it comes to the month of March, this is well known as the Francophonie season to those in the French circles and beyond.

On Friday, last week  on 27th , February , the French Embassy in Uganda together with other diplomatic corps launched  a  series of activities to be done in celebration of the month and this was under theme ” French Opens Doors”.

Among them were ; Burundi, Rwanda, Belgium, The Republic of; Korea, Egypt and the Democratic Republic of  Congo.

Speaking at her residence,Her Excellency , Virginie Leroy ,  said that the Francophonie community  has people across the globe and there is a lot of  shaping and adding new words and Democratic Republic of Congo is one of them and  language  does not belong to France.

” French has become an official language in East Africa and here with us, we have many other countries part of the celebrations and I  assure you French Opens doors as our theme says  since there are very many opportunities that have come up with us working together in unity, collaboration and harmony”.Said Leroy. 

On behalf of the Belgium Embassy , Julie Feremans, first Secretary political and consular noted that  on  Friday 27, March they  shall have a music concert and invited a Belgian Opera singer born  in Ukraine and they will  work with some Ugandans and 23rd March they shall have a dinner at  Le  Chateau since we all know them for beers and chocolate.

The Burundian Ambassador to Uganda, H.E Jules Ndihokubwayo highlighted that they  are known for the Burundian  drum called “Ngoma” and it was  great honor to work with the French people and that  francophonie is more than a community and  it is forum  where different  identities work together.

” We are proud of the Burundian drum and it’s identity  embodies unity social occasion and calls people together which creates shared space in which we have a role and voice.

The drum offers a lesson and each one has a tone and brings together people with its unique symphony”. Jules explained.

In the same spirit , H.E Monzer Fathi Abdel Aziz Mohammed Selim, Egyptian Ambassador  to Uganda appreciated the efforts by his counterparts for the time they have put together in formulation and coming together and are just ready activities,  adding that  they are going to have a culinary night  on March 11th  where it will an experience of great food that is so unique and tasty prepared by fine chefs.

He also asserted that Egypt  has their culture but they have been able to stimulate to others and they use  French as a  language together with other rest from African Egypt, Mediterranean and 

we are going to have a n Egypt culinary night that  that history runs for over 500 years at Sheraton from March 11th and we have our culture but we have been able to simulator with other from the African Egypt and Mediterranean one.

Choi Heejo, deputy chief of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Korea said that they will actively participating  and they will be showcasing their experiences  on  March 17th before thanking  them for opening doors for them to participate 

H.E Joseph Rutabana,  Rwandan High Commissioner to Uganda said that they are  part of Organization  Internationale de la Francophonie ( OIF) and French remains an important language.

He asserted that all their gazettes are in  three languages that include: Kinyarwanda, French and English and the OIF secretary general is Rwandan and they have had exchanges amongst each other and they will have a cultural troupe on 27th March.

 Mr. Loic Boivin, Director  Alliance Francaise de Kampala  said that since they are a cultural center, they have arranged a series of activities that are forth coming and engaging and already they are in full gear for the Francophonie month with Njogera Francaise, Job affair and many more.

Representing the teachers,  Dr.Agatha Tumwine,  President Association  of teachers of French ( APFO) explained that French plays a great role and Uganda cannot remain anglophone since some of the neighbours alone speak French and we are living in the  21st Century and learners need the language to keep them afloat  with the new language trends.

She also expressed her delight that they will be launching the primary section  on 22nd March at Hungry Caterpillar and it  is a great milestone since  French has not been on the teaching curriculum.