UPDF | POLICE | FRENCH

KAMPALA - A team from the Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) and the Uganda Police Force have completed training in the French language that will enhance the capacity of forces to operate in Francophone (French-speaking) countries.

The French Ambassador to Uganda Xavier Sticker on Monday 20th March 2023 congratulated the graduates on their success, saying learning the French language will give them more opportunities in their careers.

Xavier Sticker (R), the France Ambassador to Uganda talks to Monzer Selim (L), the Egypt Ambassador to Uganda during the International Francophonie Day ceremony at the French Residence in Kampala on March 20, 2023. (All Photos by Hajarah Nalwadda)

The graduates were presented with their certifications and diplomas. The graduates included communication officers from ministries, departments and agencies of government.

The awards were held on the day the French Embassy in Uganda marked Francophonie Day in Uganda. The function took place at Sicker’s residence in Nakasero, Kampala.

Sticker (R) France Ambassador to Uganda awards 1A French language certificate to UPDF officer Richard Akyuwete (L) during the International Francophonie Day ceremony at the French Residence in Kampala. on March 20, 2023.

“Learning French is a good choice even where English is spoken. Many French-speaking people live in Africa,” Sticker said.

The ambassador said that the UN peacekeepers were deployed mainly in French-speaking countries such as Mali and DRC. 

Guests interact during the International Francophonie Day ceremony.

“When you (military) speak French in countries where French is widely spoken, the military can get easy access to the population, you ease tension, you can collect operational intelligence from the streets, the markets,” Sticker said.

He added that French has become the third official language of the EAC after English and Swahili. He noted that with the African Continental Free Trade opportunities are opening further for Ugandans who can speak French.

Lt. Col. Yann Chollet (Defence Attache of Embassy of France in Uganda) awards 1A French language certificate to Ian Atwine (L) of Uganda Police during the International Francophonie Day ceremony at the French Residence in Kampala.

“No language can claim to embody universalism on its own because we live in a plural world. We can’t learn all the languages but we can choose a few, French is beneficial,” he explained.

Lt. Col. Yann Chollet the defence attaché at the Embassy of France in Uganda said that the learning French language will help UPDF officers involved in specific operations. Chollet indicated that the French language will boost regional integration efforts.

Sticker (R) awards 1A French language certificate to Meta Karani of UPDF.

“Learning French will help Uganda improve cooperation with French-speaking nations, we shall continue with the French teaching as part of the military cooperation between Uganda and France,” Chollet said.

Victor Petit, the deputy director at the Alliance Francais Kampala said that it was estimated that by 2060 the majority of French speakers, 85% will be living in Africa. Petit said that the UN command language was French. He mentioned that the DRC that neighbours Uganda was the second biggest country that speaks French after France.

Uganda Police officers interact after receiving their certificates in French language during the International Francophonie Day ceremony.

He noted several African countries use French as their main languages such as Algeria, Egypt, Rwanda and Burundi. 

In that respect, Ugandans enhancing their language in French can communicate better with citizens in Francophone countries. “Linguistic diversity and respect between languages are very important,” Petit remarked.

Uganda government Communication personnel who graduated in French language with Xavier Sticker (C) during the International Francophonie Day ceremony at the French Residence in Kampala.

Capt. Samuel Ejik, the coordinator French language at the Uganda Junior Staff College in Jinja speaking on behalf of the graduates expressed satisfaction at receiving the awards.

“This is because of the cooperation between the UPDF and France. It is a great honour to receive the certificates from the French Ambassador to Uganda,” Ejik said.

Xavier Sticker (L) interacts with government Communications personnel who passed A1 French language level. This was during the International Francophonie day ceremony at the French Residence in Kampala on March 20, 2023.

“We appreciate the different French teachers from Alliance Francais and those in Jinja who taught us,” Ejik added.

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(L-R) Xavier Sticker (France Ambassador to Uganda), Major Karim Dwale of UPDF and Lt. Col. Yann Chollet (Defence Attache, Embassy of France in Uganda) interact during the International Francophonie Day ceremony at the French Residence in Kampala.

Lt. Col. Yann Chollet (Defence Attache of Embassy of France in Uganda) awards 1A French language certificate to Lubega (left) of UPDF during the International Francophonie Day ceremony.

Sticke awards 1A French language certificate to Godfrey Sempungu (L), a communication personal.