While officiating at the closing ceremony of the camp in Mpigi District at St. Maria Goretti Katende, Mpigi District Education Officer, Deogracious Sekyole said the programme helps learners become more social, confident, and competitive in the global employment market because of their language skills.
Ugandan students have been encouraged to embrace the learning of multiple languages as a way of securing better opportunities and preparing for an increasingly competitive global job market.
The call was made during the annual Camp Cadique Francophile Uganda (CALUFU), organised by the Association of Teachers of French in Uganda (ATFU), a programme aimed at equipping learners with practical skills in the French language and culture.
The 2026 camp was held under the theme: “Collaborer, innover et agir en français pour un avenir durable” (Collaborate, innovate, and act in French for a sustainable future).
Speaking during the camp activities, Dr. Agatha Tumwine Magezi, president of the Association of Teachers of French in Uganda, said the organisation brings together French teachers at all levels of education, from primary schools to universities.
She highlighted the association’s core values of communication, multilingualism, professionalism, internationalism, and holistic citizenship, saying these principles guide the training and mentorship of learners across the country.
Dr. Tumwine urged students to learn several languages, noting that multilingualism opens doors to international employment and educational opportunities. She also encouraged learners to value and understand their mother tongues, saying this strengthens their ability to interpret and master foreign languages.
She further emphasised the importance of co-curricular and practical activities outside the classroom, including football, cooking, farming, and cultural exchanges, saying such engagements help learners remain physically active while exposing them to different cultures and experiences.
While officiating at the closing ceremony of the camp in Mpigi District at St. Maria Goretti Katende, Mpigi District Education Officer, Deogracious Sekyole said the programme helps learners become more social, confident, and competitive in the global employment market because of their language skills.
Sekyole expressed concern that many schools have not embraced the teaching of French and other foreign languages despite their growing importance in today’s interconnected world.
Prof. Atcero Milburga, from the French Language Education department at Makerere University Business School (MUBS) also praised the benefits of learning more than one language, saying it enables learners to better appreciate different cultures, including culinary traditions, while improving social interaction. She encouraged students to pursue language studies to higher levels of education.
Frantz Sidi Ami, a representative of the French Embassy in Uganda, said multilingualism improves access to employment opportunities while enhancing competence, concentration, memory, and other important life skills.
Meanwhile, in Jinja, during the closing ceremony at MM College Wairaka, Godfrey Mubaliraine, representing the District Education Officer, expressed disappointment over the low number of schools in eastern Uganda offering foreign language programmes.
He noted that foreign languages play a vital role in expanding learners’ career opportunities and increasing their global exposure.
