KAMPALA- As more activities are still taking shape in the Francophonie month. The Association of teachers of French (APFO) together with the Association of University French Clubs in Uganda ( ACFUO) took part in the celebrations at Makerere University to appreciate the power of multi lingualism as a global tool for communication.
The theme for the Francophonie month is “Speak Loud” and indeed the various students from different universities took it away by expressing them selves loud in all aspects such as; poems , drama,singing and dancing.
In her remarks, Jacinta Naluyima, President ACFUO welcomed the various universities that took part in the celebrations and thanked them for actively participating in the event.
” Today, we have over 7 institutions that have taken their time to come through and make our day memorable and have vigorously given their best in the making this honourable and for sure next year , we are willing to support and work with the next hosting university in reciprocation”. Naluyima Added
Karim Cwinya’ay who represented Alliance Francais de Kampala, encouraged everyone to learn the language no matter their age because it is never too late since it will create for them that edge for opportunities than everyone else especially in Uganda.
Patrick Bugingo, from the Uganda – France Alumni Association shared his story and interest for the French language which was birthed from primary, it escalated to secondary, university and to now being a lecturer at Uganda’s most prestigious Institution in Business ( Makerere University Business School ).
He advised , the students to knock on the doors for the opportunities and also urged to them to get involved and embrace it and eventually it will work for them.
Agatha Tumwine, President APFO, shared the history of the Francophone month which started in 1970, in Niamey, Niger in West Africa.
She also reminded the students that French is an official language in East Africa and they can not escape since Uganda is surrounded by other speaking countries like Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi , Rwanda and with a population of over 320 million speakers across the globe and the numbers are increasing every time.
Tumwine also emphasized the love and embracing of our cultures and indigenous languages since they are our roots from which all this emanates.
The day had participants from Ndejje University, Bugema, International University of East Africa, Kyambogo, Makerere Business School and others .
