China-Uganda relationship at its best ever - envoy

Sep 20, 2019

15 competitors, who have been unveiled, will enjoy a fully-paid week-long trip to China.

COMPETITION

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KAMPALA - The China-Uganda relationship is at its best in history, China's ambassador to Uganda Zheng ZhuQiang has said at the unveiling of the overall winners of a three-pronged five-month programme by the Chinese Embassy and Vision Group.

Speaking during an engaging prize-giving ceremony in Kampala on Friday, Ambassador Zheng said bilateral ties between the two countries have been "elevated to a new level".

He said President Yoweri Museveni's trip to China in June last year, where he met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, opened a "new chapter" of their nations' relations.

Zheng was presiding over a function that saw 15 Ugandans win a fully-paid week-long trip to China later this year.

(All photos by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

From left, Ambassador Zheng ZhuQiang, Vision Group's Robert Kabushenga (CEO) and Barbara Kaija (Editor-in-Chief)

Five of the group were the overall winners of the My China Story Essay Competition. Three reigned supreme in the Up Close to Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy quiz and two were lucky winners drawn from a raffle on the night. The remaining five were winners of the Let's Talk Chinese competition.

The three projects, a partnership involving the Chinese Embassy in Uganda and Vision Group, were launched in April.

Makerere University, which is championing the learning of Chinese in Uganda through its Confucius Institute, has also been involved.

Zheng said the competitions have been "huge successes" and thanked Vision Group for its support.

Vision Group chief executive Robert Kabushenga, heaping praise on the Chinese Embassy in Uganda for the initiative, also praised Ambassador Zheng for being "exceptional ever since you arrived in Uganda".

"He has been exemplary in trying to make the Ugandan people understand the Chinese people," he told guests.

Kabushenga congratulated the winners and urged them to emulate the Chinese people's culture of punctuality while in China. He said the Chinese people are courteous and welcoming.

Barbara Kaija, Vision Group's Editor-in-Chief, attended the event. In her speech, she thanked all the competitors for their input as well as the Chinese Embassy and Vision Group staff for their involvement.

The full-house prize-giving function came on the heels of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which is due on October 1.

China is the biggest developing country in the world and according to Zheng, it is "playing a more important role in the international affairs".

On the Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, the ambassador said the speeches of President Xi "enable Ugandan friends to have a better understanding of China's foreign policy".

"All these make the quiz and the essay competition so relevant to Uganda," he said.

The 15 winners

Rodney Mukunzi, Kassim Wendi and Teddy Nakabuye Kyambadde won the quiz, which was conducted on the night. Rtd Capt. Benon Tumuhairwe and Innocent Douglas Okwir were the lucky draw winners.

From left, Mukunzi, Wendi and Nakabuye won the quiz

The overall winners of the My China Story Essay are Andrew Roland Kamagara, Moses Apollo Namisi, David Muliika, Hilda Ayebare and Stephen Israel Tusubira.

The Let's Talk Chinese winners are Brian Kintu, Daphine Tayebwa, Cheer Kankunde, Samson Maraka and Elias Musinguzi.

The weekly and monthly My China Story Essay winners won smartphones.

The Chinese Embassy will celebrate the People's Republic of China's 70th anniversary on Tuesday next week - all the 15 winners will be invited to be a part of the function.

"In the past seven decades, China has made tremendous achievements in various fields, which is rarely seen in human history. Seeing is believing. I wish all the winners have a pleasant and unforgettable trip in China, during which you can use your own eyes, ears, hearts and souls to find a true China," said Ambassador Zheng.

"The embassy is committed to working with Vision Group to continue organising more activities to promote the friendship between us and the Comprehensive Partnership between our two countries."