DM Monitoring
KAMPALA: The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is famous for its infrastructure construction, but it has also subtly enhanced people-to-people (P2P) contacts between Chiense and Ugandan nationals.
On the scenic shores of River Nile, the world’s longest river, a Chinese construction technician and a Ugandan teacher found love, and their love has bared fruit, baby Kyle.
Baby Kyle, born on Aug. 11, is a new generation of children that signifies the people-to-people relations between China and Africa, brought forward by the BRI.
Announced in 2013 by China, the BRI, aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa. The initiative comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
In Uganda, the Chinese-constructed Isimba Hydro Power Plant, a 566-million-U.S. dollar project by Sinohydro Corporation Ltd., is one of the key BRI energy infrastructure projects in the east African country.
During the construction of the 183 megawatts power plant, Betty Nabukeera, a local teacher, and Liu Qi, a Chinese construction technician at Sinohydro fell in love. In their house, the excitement about their new baby is visible, as Nabukeera carries the baby, Liu is preparing milk in the kitchen. Liu also cooks for his young family whenever Nabukeera is not able. In November last year, Liu and Nabukeera held a wedding ceremony.
Before the wedding, Liu had to fulfil the traditional practice of paying dowry to Nabukeera’s family before he was allowed to proceed to the wedding ceremony.
Liu told media in a recent interview that he gladly paid the dowry because he was determined to marry his love, Nabukeera.
Five years before their marriage, Nabukeera and Liu met at a roadside, as Liu was supervising construction works on a road leading to the power plant. They exchanged pleasantries and telephone numbers promising to keep in touch.
“I wanted to learn English, so I asked her to buy me a local sixth grade English textbook, and then I often sent the pictures (in the book) to ask her how to read and what do they mean. Later, after around three months, my English level improved very much,” Liu said.
Through continued interactions, they developed feelings for each other.
When Liu communicated to his parents back in Xiantao of China’s Hubei Province about his love, her mother was a bit upset.
Liu’s parents disagreed at first, concerning about cultural background, which made himself questioning the relationship with Nabukeera.
