The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China has urged Chinese companies to support more infrastructural development programmes in Uganda. Speaking at the inauguration of the renovated Garden Hill Road on Friday, 4th September, 2015, H.E Zhao Yali, said supporting infrastructure development would be a way of appreciating the warm hospitality accorded to the Chinese business community in Uganda.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports for strengthening cooperation between Uganda and China, especially through the Education Sector. Every year, the Chinese government awards 50 scholarships to Ugandan students to study in China. The government through its embassy also sponsors 300 Ugandan employees for short training courses in China.
Uganda’s Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Sports, Hon. Jessica Alupo, expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for supporting development programmes in Uganda. She particularly thanked Zhongmei Engineering Group Limited for the financial and material support rendered towards the renovation of Garden Hill Road. Zhongmei Engineering Group Limited, a Chinese construction and engineering firm, invested approximately 100,000 US dollars in the renovation of the road.
Hon. Alupo said the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports would include Chinese in the new secondary school curriculum starting 2017.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu, thanked Zhongmei Engineering Group for the worthwhile investment and called for more support towards the development of the Confucius Institute.
At the same occasion, 100 students were awarded certificates upon completion of various levels of training in Chinese. The Vice Chancellor congratulated the students and urged more Ugandans to enrol for the course. “This is a valuable investment; you have acquired knowledge, basics on the Chinese language as 
well as the Chinese culture. I particularly congratulate the members of staff of Makerere University, the Government officials and our own Makerere University students who fruitfully used their long holiday to gain an additional language. This is what is needed in today’s competitive world where jobs are scarce and where knowledge of an international language is always an added advantage. I encourage you to go through all the levels of training to gain fluency,” he said.
He expressed appreciation for the support rendered by the Chinese government towards the development of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University.
Since its inauguration on 19th December, 2014, the Confucius Institute has registered several achievements. According to the Directors, Prof. Oswald Ndoleriire and Prof. Hong Yong, there are 40 second year students pursuing Chinese at different levels and several teaching points have been established in various institutions across the country. These include Mountains of the Moon University in Fort Portal, Aga Khan Primary School, Victorious Education Services, and the International University of East Africa.
The Manager, Zhongmei Engineering Group Limited, Mr Hang Dongling, thanked the Government of Uganda for according them an opportunity to participate in infrastructure development in Uganda.