NEW ERA: Ugandan youth tapping into Chinese proficiency, culture

Nihao... the standard Chinese greeting is heard in murmurs as students settle in for a mid-level Chinese language class at the Confucius Institute in Makerere University. 

It is taught at beginner’s and bachelor’s levels. The day’s instructor is Chinese, but most of the teaching is done by Ugandans. The students, numbering 30, come from different backgrounds but united by one mission; to speak Chinese. 

Dauda Ssegane is a second-year student of Chinese language and Asian studies at Makerere University. He is confident that mastering the language and culture will propel him to the career opportunities he is looking for. 

“I was inspired by a friend who is in China now. We discussed the benefits of studying the language and I was convinced. There are many opportunities for people who speak Chinese and earn good money,” Ssegane says. 

Trevor Ssetisamu is also in his second year pursuing a bachelor’s in Chinese language and Asian studies. Initially, he was interested in enrolling for Chinese to improve his linguistics, but when he learnt that Makerere was offering a degree, he opted for that. 

He dreams of becoming a teacher, focusing on Chinese nationals who want to learn English. 

“Many Chinese [who come to Uganda] can’t speak English. So, us who are studying the language are bridging the gap. If you see trading, communication and in many other sectors, the Chinese are doing great,” Ssetisamu explains. 

Directors Tang Fei and Gomushabe view the Chinese Bridge Competitions champions.

An additional benefit of learning Chinese, Ssetisamu says, is there are many opportunities to acquire a scholarship in China or any other country since it is an international language. 

‘A wealth of information' 

Patricia Ampaire works at the Confucius Institute at Makerere University as the short course coordinator. At the beginning, her only interest was to learn the language, but was impressed that the course also offered a wealth of information about the Chinese culture. 

“I love working here because Chinese is an interesting language, and it is also fun to learn new things. I interact with different kinds of people and when I ask them why they are coming to study with us, they say; “Oh, I want to speak Chinese or I work with a Chinese company or I just want to learn a new language,” Ampaire says. 

Her dream is to work as a translator or go to China and venture into business. To mine these opportunities from the world’s second largest economy, Ampaire knows she must speak Chinese fluently. The institute offers international examinations, short courses for students and vacationists and non-students. 

The Chinese language is also taught as part of Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences.

These students have access to HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi), HSKK (Hanyu Shuiping Kouyu Kaoshi), YCT (Youth Chinese Test), and BCT (Business Chinese Test) examinations; opportunities to travel and do business in China; can win scholarships and participate in bridge competitions. 

Namisi (left) graduating with his colleagues.

The Chinese proficiency test, administered by Hanban, is China’s only standardised test of standard Chinese language proficiency or Mandarin language proficiency for non-native speakers. 

It approximates to the English equivalent which is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). 

Why promote Chinese language and culture 

Ssegane, Ssetisamu and Ampaire are some of the more than 5,000 students who have been trained at the Confucius Institute. The institute has two directors — a Ugandan, and a Chinese. 

Tang Fei arrived just as the Confucius Institute marked 10 years in the country. Remarkably, the Confucius Institute in Uganda was also the first in the continent. 

“I love it here because of the weather and also because of the environment. Most importantly, the people are very kind,” Tang Fei says. The Ugandan director at the Confucius Institute is Dr Gilbert Gomushabe, who notes that aside from teaching the language at the university, the institute has ensured students start learning Mandarin from secondary school. 

Tang Fei

“Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports through the National Curriculum Development Centre, [the institute helped] to develop the curriculum for both O’level and A’level,” Gomushabe says. 

Teaching Chinese 

All Chinese language teachers across schools are Ugandans who have passed the test qualifying them to teach. “Ugandan teachers undergo intensive training for nine months at a Confucius classroom, and, upon graduation, they are able to teach from Senior One to Senior Six,” Gomushabe notes. 

The first results of Chinese language examined under the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education have just been released. Trinity College, Kabale which had six candidates writing the exam, scored A, B and C. 

In China, there is emphasis of people-to-people mutual benefit, “I benefit and you also benefit”, which is also promoted at the institute. 

“We are not talking about bringing the Chinese culture and we teach it to Ugandans. We are talking about understanding the Chinese culture and also understanding our culture and appreciating each other’s culture and respecting it,” Gomushabe says. 

Culture aside, studying Chinese also opens one up to take up the vast opportunities available, that many are missing out on because of language barrier. Whereas there are more Ugandans enrolling to the Confucius Institute every day, more Ugandans will have to learn the Chinese language to match opportunities available. 

Even in business, Gumoshabe explains, “the teaching of Chinese enables those who want to go into business in China to take up the opportunity.” Moses Apollo Namisi is a pioneer Ugandan Chinese language teacher in the country, now working with Fracht SMC Uganda, a consortium of 25 Chinese-owned companies, as a business development executive. 

Ampaire

He is based at Sino-Uganda industrial park in Mbale, eastern Uganda. He taught at the Confucius Institute for seven years since it was set. 

On a given day, Namisi juggles offices through his position to offer translation services between Chinese executives and Ugandan stakeholders. Knowing the Chinese language and culture, he says, opens doors to vast opportunities worldwide. 

“When you speak a person’s language, you speak to their heart. It goes beyond opening opportunities for jobs. The language helps someone discover their unknown gifts and calling. It brings back the confidence and helps learners rediscover themselves. 

“The sky is the limit” he says as long as he adheres to Chinese good ways,” Namisi says. His journey with Chinese started in 2008. He got a scholarship through the Chinese embassy to go and study a degree and it required him to study the language for the first six months. 

He enrolled for an education degree and continued with the Chinese language, acquiring a master’s degree in teaching it. 

Fact file: Chinese investment in Uganda 

The impact of Chinese investment can be felt in the manufacturing sector. From beverage to textile and steel, Ugandans are tapping into the opportunities. 

Tsetisamu

In December 2024, David Bahati, the minister of state for trade, industry and cooperatives, announced that eight new multi-million-dollar Chinese factories had been commissioned, pushing forward Uganda’s industrialisation journey. 

According to Gumoshabe, more than 40,000 people have been taught Chinese in Uganda. 

Confucianism

Moses Apollo Namisi, a pioneer Ugandan Chinese language teacher, says confucianism as an ideology is not what is taught here, they focus on the material culture and non-material culture, for example, the differences in food. 

“The foods are the same, we all eat rice, but the methods of preparation and the sauce is different. Look at the music, it is different; the singing is different; and we need to understand how that impacts on ourselves and coexist. We need to understand one another so that we are able to promote one another.” 

23-year-old Tayebya Irene (Chinese name Mo Shanshan) is a construction coordinator at SINOPEC Uganda. Studying Chinese language was her career starting point and it has helped her “not be part of the rat race, competing for ordinary jobs with other people.” 

The Confucius Institute, she says, gave her the foundation she needed to master the language. It was cost effective. She paid sh150,000 per month for 90 days. She found the language “sweet to my ears” while watching Asian TV dramas. 

“Everybody goes to the university; everybody can pursue that course; but what separates you from other job seekers? I’m not at the top, but I don’t need to search.”