On January 27, a delegation led by Mr. Ssoma Ayubu Ssoma, Director of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) and President of the Sino-Uganda Friendship Association, visited his alma mater, Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU). Mr. Ssoma is a 1988 alumnus of the university. The delegation was accompanied by Ms. Wang Lihong, Founder of Uganda's Luyangzi Institute of Technology, among others. Vice President Zhang Baojun met with the delegation, and the visit tenderly retold a BLCU bond that has spanned over three decades.
Four members across two generations of the Ssoma family have forged a deep connection with BLCU, making Sino-Ugandan friendship part of their family legacy. Their story embodies the sentiment, “Once a BLCUer, always a BLCUer,” across the passage of time. Mr. Ssoma himself is a BLCU graduate. His eldest son also studied at BLCU, where he received an Outstanding Student Award for his excellent performance, and now works for Huawei in Uganda, using his professional skills to build bridges for Sino-Ugandan cooperation. Following in his father’s footsteps, the second son spent a year studying at BLCU before pursuing further education at Tsinghua University, expanding his knowledge on a broader platform. His daughter is currently an undergraduate student majoring in International Chinese Language Education at BLCU. She aspires to become a politician, with the goal of fostering deeper exchanges between China and Uganda.
The warmest moment of this visit was undoubtedly the reunion between teacher and student after more than thirty years. Mr. Ssoma's greatest wish for this trip was to meet his respected former teachers from BLCU, Ms. Wang Xiaoshan, and the former head of the department, Mr. Zhuo Zhengming. When the two teachers appeared at the gathering, Mr. Ssoma was moved to tears. Clasping their hands tightly, he recalled emotionally, “I can still vividly picture you teaching in the classroom. The moments when you taught us Chinese characters, pronunciation, and explained Chinese culture—I have never forgotten them.” Vice President Zhang Baojun presented Mr. Ssoma with his original student registration card from his BLCU days. Holding the yellowed card, which carries memories of his youth and the beginning of his connection with China, Mr. Ssoma touched it repeatedly, his eyes reddening, and called it his most precious memento.
Looking at her former student, Ms. Wang was filled with pride: “Ssoma was exceptionally diligent in class back then, always asking questions. Seeing him become an envoy of Sino-Ugandan friendship today makes us truly proud.” Mr. Zhuo also remarked with emotion that Ssoma was one of the most hardworking international students of that time, and his love and dedication to China have remained unwavering for over thirty years.
From one man coming to study in China, to four members across two generations being connected to BLCU, the story of Ssoma's family is a vivid microcosm of Sino-Ugandan people-to-people exchange. It is also a true portrayal of BLCU students using their youthful energy to build bridges between China and the world. This bond, which transcends mountains and oceans, grows stronger with each passing generation.
(Editors: Liang Chenxi, Xie Yuting)
