What you need to know:
- Launched two years ago with funding exceeding €288,450 (approximately Shs1.1 billion) from the French Embassy in Uganda, the initiative was jointly executed by Alliance Française de Kampala and APFO.
Seven secondary schools across Uganda have been recognized for outstanding performance in French language teaching at the official closing ceremony of a two-year national initiative aimed at strengthening French instruction in classrooms.
The selected institutions include Kitante Hill School, St. Joseph’s Secondary School Naggalama, St. Theresa SS Bwanda, St. Henry’s College Kitovu, Ndejje Secondary School, Seeta High School (Green Campus), and Kiira College Butiki. The schools were chosen following a comprehensive nationwide evaluation that assessed at least 25 participating secondary schools across the country.
The French Label Awarding Ceremony, held at Kitante Hill School, marked the conclusion of the Fonds de Solidarité pour les Projets Innovants (FEF) project. The event was attended by dignitaries, educators, and language advocates, including the French Ambassador to Uganda, Her Excellency Virginie Leroy.
Dr Agatha Tumwine the President of association of French teachers in Uganda together with representatives from National Curriculum development center.
Organized by the Alliance Française de Kampala in partnership with the Association of Teachers of French in Uganda (APFO) and the French Embassy in Uganda, the two-year project focused on enhancing pedagogical standards, modernizing classroom delivery, and introducing harmonized methodologies for French language learning at the secondary level.
The awarded schools received the prestigious “Label” certification in recognition of their exceptional dedication to language education, innovative teaching strategies, and strong student outcomes.
Speaking at the event, Karim Cwinya’ay, the project head and director of courses at Alliance Française de Kampala, highlighted the rigorous criteria behind the recognition and the tangible impact recorded during the two-year period.
"The awards highlight institutions that have demonstrated measurable progress in delivering quality French instruction," Cwinya'ay said. "Through continuous evaluation and standard-setting, these schools have shown what can be achieved when innovative teaching methods are fully embraced in the classroom."
The project head Karim Cwinya'ay, who is also the head of courses at Alliance Francaise De Kampala. Photos/Gabriel Buule
Mr. Banks Nagaba, the Deputy Headteacher of Kitante Hill School, commended the project for transforming language instruction at his school and shifting student attitudes toward learning a foreign language.
"This project has played a vital role in modernizing our French teaching practices and expanding access to quality language education," Nagaba noted. "It has helped our students genuinely embrace the language, and as a result, we are seeing the number of students choosing to study French at Kitante grow significantly every single year."
Launched two years ago with funding exceeding €288,450 (approximately Shs1.1 billion) from the French Embassy in Uganda, the initiative was jointly executed by Alliance Française de Kampala and APFO.
Over the course of the project, Alliance Française de Kampala conducted regional monitoring visits, led specialized teacher-training workshops on modern pedagogical methods, and produced multimedia content, including videos and podcasts profiling the evolving landscape of French education in Uganda.
Meanwhile, the Association of Teachers of French in Uganda focused on capacity-building programs for instructors, organized French language holiday camps for learners, and spearheaded national advocacy campaigns to encourage the adoption of French in secondary education curricula nationwide.