The Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among has asked the leadership of the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) to liaise with the Attorney General and the Office of the Prime Minister to introduce the much awaited amendments in the Red Cross Act to make it up-to-date.

The Speaker said this during a meeting with the leadership of URCS on Thursday morning in her office at Parliament.

In the meeting, the URCS Secretary General Robert Kwesiga noted that the current law enacted in 1964, is inadequate and vague especially on the Government’s financial obligations to the humanitarian organization.

Kwesiga noted that the legislation needs to be amended because it does not address the demands of the day noting that there are some elements in the law which are broad like on financial support and contribution to the Society.

He said the URCS has a financing framework with the Government through the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Prime Minister but getting the resources remains difficult.

In response, the Speaker Among noted that the support to URCS is support to many Ugandans battling with humanitarian crises, especially in disaster prone areas like Bududa, Kasese and places affected by flooding caused by the recent heavy rains.

She also said the amendment can decisively address the financing challenges and tasked the Commissioner of Parliament Mathias Mpuuga to coordinate with URCS for speedy introduction of a bill to give a proper legal framework to the financing of the organization’s humanitarian works.

By Francis Lubega

28 Nov 2024

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