ASSOCIATION DES PROFESSEURS DE FRANÇAIS EN OUGANDA (APFO)

www.bureauapfo.org Tél. (+256) 772325318 Email: bureauapfo@yahoo.com

THE APFO MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, July 2023

Greetings from the Association of Teachers of French Language in Uganda, Here is what we have been
up to as we continue to focus on efforts to establish a vibrant French Teaching and Learning process in
Uganda as elaborated in our Goal, Mission, Vision and core values.

Diplomacy:

BASTILLE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN UGANDA:

Dr Agathe Tumwine Magezi, Our Association President weighs in, in as far as the Bastille Day
Celebrations and Uganda are concerned. In her encounter with New Vision, she elucidates on how
despite the EAC opening borders for labour mobility, Most Ugandans who are only/mainly Anglophone
are missing/losing out on Jobs due to inability to speak French. This and more of her deliberations,
kindly visit the link below https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/bastille-day-ugandans-losing-
out-for-not-spea-NV_164989
In the same spirit, the official event held at the French Ambassador's Residence in Kololo saw alot of
guests honouring H.E Xavier Sticker's invitation. In his maiden speech,, the French Diplomat assured his
guests and Uganda at large, of strengthening bilateral ties between Uganda and France. The Justice and
Constitutional Affairs Minister was the Chief guest.
The Chief Guest, Hon Nobert Mao, the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister cutting cake with the
French Ambassador and other invited Guests.

Invited Guests having a good time during the event.

A number of Companies that partnered and are part of the Kampala Business Club.
MBALE REGION FRENCH OPEN DAY CELEBRATIONS :

Being one of the French Language strongholds, Mbale region could not let the Bastille Day Celebrations
of the 14th July just pass. For that reason, through their Regional Representative Mr Simon Peter
Wamanga , were able to organise a French Open Day which was held at St Clare Girls High School in
Mbale. Over 5 Schools attended and a number of students presented their fantastic performances
ranging from Songs, Plays, poems, music, dance and drammer.

Mr Julius BALUKU, the Deputy Secretary General of APFO represented the Association President as Chief
guest and in his remarks thanked learners and stakeholders in the region for not abandoning French and
encouraged them to continue embracing it so as to benefit from a wide range of advantages such as
scholarships, jobs, as well as attaining global citizenry.

Students of Nabumali High School performing a poem.

(L-R), Mr Bigala, Mr Baluku, Mr Simon Peter Wamanga, the Mbale Regional Representative of APFO,
Mr Namanda, Mr Moses MABALA and other Teachers of French language in mbale shortly after the
event.
Students from the 5 Schools. St Clare Girls High School, Bubulo girls High School, Kamonkoli College
School, Nabumali High School and Katira Parents SS.

Students of Kamonkoli College board their bus to go back to their School after a successfull event.

MUBs 11th CONGRESS 1st CORE TEAM MEETING:

As APFO gets ready to Host the 11th Africa and Indian Ocean Teachers of French language delegates
Conference due to take place at Makerere University Business School (Mubs), from 22nd to 27th July
2023, several pre-congress activities in the bid to have a very successful and memorable Event have
already kickstarted. The first ever official preparatory meeting was held on Monday 20th July 2023 at
the Mubs Conference Centre. A number of pertinent issues were discussed among which were,
identifying / benchmarking on Key issues to be presented to the different stakeholders within and
beyond Uganda so as to bring them on Board through partnership and co-funding, Key Organisations or
Companies to work with, discussing on how to draft the budget needed to fund the congress, where and
how to Host the delegates as well as when to implicate the different stakeholders in ensuring a vibrant
congress is held.
APFO - UGANDA TOURISM BOARD MEETING :

A team from the Association of Teachers of French in Uganda led by the APFO President Dr Agathe
Tumwine Magezi met with their counter parts from the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) in the bid to bring
them on board through a partnership aimed at promoting Uganda's Tourism during the congress. A
number of pertinent issues discussed and an assurance to work

together.

(R-L), Dr Agathe Tumwine Magezi, APFO President, Associate Prof Milburga Atcero, Dean faculty of
hospitality at MUBs, Mr Richard Kawere, Current Principal of the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training
Institute (UHTTI) in Jinja, Mrs Mellon Tukeikiriza, Senior Marketing officer -MICE (UTB),Don Patrick
Bujingo, APFO Regional Representative for Universities.

WESTNILE REGION STUDENTS' SEMINAR:

In prepration for the forthcoming National Examinations organised by the National Examining body, the
Uganda Examinations Board (UNEB), APFO's Westnile region leaders organised a students' Seminar that
saw senior Teachers of French language gather efforts to support candidates nearing their final sitting.
French is one of the most well performed subjects in Uganda and Seminars like these help students to
Iron out their weaknesses and get guidance from other subject experts other than their own classroom
Teachers.
Mr Dickson Niyirinda, the APFO Secretary General with some students and Teachers of French after
the Seminar.

Mr Baraka Bassayef Amule, with some students that attended the Seminar

Mr Baraka Bassayef Amule with some students during the Seminar at Arua Public SS.
Some Students ready to go back to their School after a successfull Seminar.

FRENCH CLUB HANDOVER CEREMONY AT ST MARY'S EDIOFE GIRLS' SCHOOL:

The main aim of French clubs in Educational Institutions is to impart leadership skills and to give
students a platform to practise French outside the classroom environment. Mr Baraka Bassayef Amule,
the APFO 1st Vice President, graced the event as Chief guest and delivered a strong message of hope to
future francophones.

The new leadership of the French Club at St Mary's Ediofe Girls' School swearing in.
Some students of St Mary's Ediofe Girls' School with Mr Baraka Bassayef, the Chief Guest during the
French Club handover ceremony.

Mr Joseph Kasamba, the APFO Vice Regional Representative of Westnile, some students of St Mary's
Ediofe Girls and Mr Baraka Bassayef Amule.

Students after a successfull handover ceremony of the French club at St Mary's Ediofe Girls School.
Students of St Mary's Ediofe Girls School pose again for a photo with their Chief guest, Mr Baraka
Bassayef (APFO 1st Vice Président) and Mr Joseph Kasamba the Vice Regional Representative of
Westnile region.

CAPACITY BUILDING:

Mr Julius BALUKU a receives a fully funded French Government Scholarship to go to France to do a

Masters Degree in French (career path: French as a foreign language, Training engineering and
International Cooperation) at the University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France. This is aimed at the
need by the French Embassy in Uganda to increase expertise in French Teaching and Learning in Uganda
especially through the Alliance Française de Kampala and the Association of Teachers of French in
Uganda. The recipient is the current AFPO Deputy Secretary General and is set to start his two year
Masters Degree in French as a foreign language next Month.

https://twitter.com/FrenchEmbassyUg/status/1683398965163614208?t=xl9fuI_mPWL2FVblaFr7TA&s=0
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Mr Julius BALUKU, scholarship recipient meeting H.E Xavier Sticker, the French Ambassador to Uganda.

ACADEMICS:

DATA COLLECTION EXERCISE OF STUDENTS IN SENIOR THREE UNDER THE NEW CURRICULUM ( SOON
SITTING FOR THEIR NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS) AT S.4
In preparation to examine the First ever candidates of the new lower Secondary curriculum, UNEB,
which is the national examining body, asked for an estimate of the number of learners currently offering
French in order to do a pilot study by doing a sampling/experimentation process of evaluation following
the New curriculum requirements. This exercise was successfully carried out thanks to regional
representatives who helped to contact individual teachers to find out how many students offer French
in their Year 3 class.
APFO MOCKS (LES EXAMENS BLANCS):

The APFO Academic Committee, led by the 1st Vice-President, Mr Baraka Bassayef Amule, organised the
APFO mock examinations. The learners' booklets and the teachers' marking guides were were
successfully distributed to individual members of the Association, in particular to those who & or whose
schools had paid their membership fees.