September 2025 | SOROTI, Uganda
Dr. Enock Ssebuyungo, Head of the Department of European and Oriental Languages at Makerere University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences has called for increased investment in foreign language education, highlighting its critical role in boosting career prospects, cultural exchange, and national development.
Speaking at the CALUFU holiday camp in Soroti, Dr. Ssebuyungo joined the Association of Teachers of French in Uganda (APFO) to engage over 100 primary and secondary school learners from North-Eastern Uganda in a dynamic community outreach program aimed at promoting the learning of French and other foreign languages.
“This initiative demonstrates that language learning doesn’t have to be confined to the classroom—it can be exciting, creative, and transformative,” Dr. Ssebuyungo said. “Foreign languages are no longer optional luxuries; they are strategic tools for communication in a globalised world.”
The CALUFU camp, spearheaded by APFO Chair Dr. Agatha Tumwine Magezi and funded by the French Embassy, used games, music, and art to make language learning enjoyable and memorable for young participants. The camp also served as a platform to sensitize learners on the practical benefits of mastering foreign languages, especially in careers like tourism, diplomacy, and international business.
Government officials, representatives from the Iteso Cultural Union (ICU), school headteachers, and local security leaders attended the camp’s opening ceremony. The initiative was widely praised as a model of how academic institutions can work with communities to address educational and developmental needs.
“Learning a foreign language should not be seen as abandoning our roots,” Dr. Ssebuyungo emphasized. “On the contrary, it complements our native languages and enriches our identity by preparing us to interact meaningfully with the wider world.”
The ICU representative expressed excitement about the upcoming introduction of Ateso as a course at Makerere University and encouraged further collaboration in promoting indigenous languages on global platforms.
Organizers and stakeholders hailed the CALUFU holiday camp as an innovative educational outreach model worth replicating across the country. Special appreciation was extended to Dr. Magezi and the APFO team for their leadership in championing multilingualism as a path to inclusive development.
About Dr. Enock Ssebuyungo
A Senior Lecturer at the Makerere University School of Languages and Head of Department European & Oriental Languages. He is also a translator and interpreter (French/English). He holds a PhD in Linguistics from the Université de Poitiers, France. His research interests include Foreign Language Learning and Translation Studies. He holds a PhD in Linguistics from the Université de Poitiers, France. His research interests include Foreign Language Learning and Translation Studies. As Coordinator of the Makerere University Centre for Language and Communication Services from 2011 to 2018, he managed community outreach services in language learning, translation and interpreting for national and international end-users. In 2016, he was awarded a Cambridge Africa Partnership for Research Excellence (CAPREx) post-doctoral fellowship to undertake a Translator Training Project. His website is https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6953-0515