Over 200 learners from different secondary schools and higher learning institutions participated in activities marking celebrations of United Nations Chinese Language Day. Every April 20, the United Nations gazette the date to mark United Nations Chinese Language Day.

The celebrations were held at Makerere University Freedom Square and organized by the Confucius Institute of Makerere University.  Students and teachers’ representatives showcase fairs, folk-custom activities, Chinese calligraphy, music, and dances.

The celebration was themed "Chinese Language: Connecting Culture through the Bridge of Mutual Learning," and also featured folk-custom games, traditional Chinese medicine, a Hanfu costume show, and tea art.

Gilbert Gumoshabe, the Ugandan director of the Confucius Institute said that Chinese language education is popular with 70 secondary schools now offering Chinese language classes.

“We hail the Chinese government for supporting Ugandan teachers in training to teach Chinese language. We also had many of our students excel very well in Chinese language for the past years,”Gumoshabe said.

Fan Xuecheng, the minister counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Uganda, said the Chinese language improves mutual understanding between Uganda and China. 

Hilda Ayebare, the assistant curriculum specialist for the Chinese language at Uganda's National Curriculum Development Centre, said that learning Chinese would not only benefit Ugandans linguistically but also culturally and enhance good relations with China.