2018 Uganda – France Week Celebrations:
- 17th – 24th March 2018
- Kampala
- Rugby Gala: 24th March 2018 (At Kyadondo)
The second edition of Uganda – France week celebrations were officially launched on Wednesday, 28th February 2018 at the French Embassy, Lumumba Avenue in Nakasero, Kampala.
H.E Stéphanie Rivol, the Ambassador of France to Uganda, flanked by the President of the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) and the Andrew Owori, the president of Uganda Rugby Union as well as music icon Jose Chameleon addressed the media.
The ambassador noted;
We are pleased to be organizing the second edition of the Uganda – France week celebrations.
This is the best way to celebrate and cement the relationship between Uganda and France.
The second edition of anything is always more challenging than the first one but we have got new partners on board with the assistance from the French Government to ensure the smooth transition of the celebrations.
We shall do a lot of activities in this week including sports, cultural events, tourism, food, fashion and celebrating the french language
The Embassy of France, together with the Uganda Olympic Committee, Uganda Rugby Union and a number of other partners, is organizing a series of events to celebrate the longstanding friendship between France and Uganda, through music, sports and cultural activities, tourism and environment expos, food and fashion, among others.
Blick expressed lauded the French Embassy in Uganda for the initiative;
Using sports and diplomacy to forge unity and mutual cooperation is a great thing. We are pleased by the French Embassy in Uganda.
To Owori, the Rugby Union President, this will be a chance of a lifetime to show case the abundant rugby talents in the country.
We have at least 2200 rugby players in Uganda. We qualified for the rugby 7’s world cup, we are the current Africa 7’s champions and shall play at the Common Wealth.
Playing the French army side will be another opportunity to prove the quality of team we have.
Also, the tournament that shall be held in Kampala with regional sides will be a showcase of talent with a target of qualifying for the 2019 Rugby world cup in Japan
The friendship week will climax on Saturday 24th March with a rugby match between the Uganda Rugby 7s and the French military rugby team.
This tournament will have the Rugby Sevens Cranes, franchise sides from Kyadondo and Legends, a sevens academy team and a select side from Eastern Uganda all taking part with a Shs2m prize at stake.
The Uganda Rugby 7’s team will use this as a preparatory tourney ahead of the Commonwealth games in Gold Coast, Australia.
The match will be followed by a music concert featuring prominent local and international artists at the Kyadondo Rugby Grounds.
Uganda’s musicians as Jose Chamelone, Irene Ntale, Navio, Fikifamaica, will be joined by the Congolese Kongoloko and David Walters from France among others.
Last year, a football match between a select side of the French military team took on the Uganda Cranes on March 25th 2017, with the later winning 3-1.
KCCA striker Geofrey Sserunkuma, the day’s captain Emmanuel Arnold Okwi and second half substitute Martin Kiiza scored the goals for the home side.
Another second half substitute Mouslin Andhum had pulled a goal back on the hour mark for the visitors.
The 2nd France-Uganda friendship week runs from 17th to 24th March 2018, as follows:
| Date | Event | Venue |
| 17.03.2018 | Francophony Day | French School, Lugogo bypass (free entrance) |
| 18.03.2018 | No Event | |
| 19.03.2018 | Tourism & Environment Day | French Residence, Nakasero (by invitation) |
| 20.03.2018 | Fashion Day | French Residence, Nakasero (by invitation) |
| 21.03.2018 | Goût de France / French cuisine Day | Le château, Nsambya (by invitation) |
| 22.03.2018 | Defence and Security Day | French Residence, Nakasero (by invitation) |
| 23.03.2018 | Sports Day | Tour of 5 schools in Kampala (free entrance) |
| 24.03.2018 | Rugby match and Music concert | Kyadondo Rugby grounds (tickets 10K UGX) |