education 27 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
French Language Learning Transforms in Ugandan Schools Amid Regional Integration Push
Students in northern Uganda, particularly near the DR Congo border, embrace French for trade and opportunities, while teaching methods shift to interactive, action-oriented approaches. With EAC integration and Afcon 2027 on the horizon, schools integrate languages like French and Kiswahili across subjects to meet practical needs. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/education/how-french-learning-is-evolving-in-schools-5437768
In northern Uganda, especially border areas with DR Congo, French learning is a practical tool for students engaged in daily trade and communication. Senior four student Denis Okerwoth at Nebbi Town Secondary School sees languages as keys to business success, noting they prevent being left behind.
At family shops near the border, French has eased customer interactions, boosting business. At St Mary’s Ediofe Girls Secondary School in Arua, Belta Omale aspires to learn French, Chinese, and Arabic to explore the world and support her family, inspired by her father’s experiences. Classmate Lona Asante was drawn in by ‘bonjour’ and visions of global jobs like in Paris.
Teachers offer historical perspective. Deputy headteacher Alice Alesi at Vurra Secondary School regrets missing French earlier but encouraged her niece, who advanced to a Paris program and a Francophone career.
Teaching has evolved from rote grammar memorization, as recalled by Makerere’s Milburga Atcero, to competence-based methods with role-plays like journalists or market sellers. Alliance Française’s Karim Chwiny’ay highlights the ‘action-oriented approach,’ where students create projects using language actively.
This aligns with the 2020 lower secondary curriculum mandating Kiswahili and offering elective French through projects and themes. In Arua classrooms, teacher Scovia Von uses songs, audio, and online tools for numbers lessons, tackling large classes and competition from ICT via subject clustering.
Experts push for new materials matching the competency-based shift. Amid EAC goals and Afcon 2027, Uganda eyes integrating French, Kiswahili, Arabic, and Chinese across sciences and humanities.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)