Speaker Among wants new Red Cross law fast-tracked

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has asked the leadership of the Red Cross Society to liaise with the Attorney General and Office of the Prime Minister to introduce amendments to the Red Cross Act.

The current law enacted in 1964, said Secretary General Mr Robert Kwesiga in a meeting with Speaker Among, is inadequate and vague especially on government’s financial obligations to the humanitarian organisation.

“That legislation needs to be amended because it does not address the demands of the day; there are some elements in the law which are a bit broad like on financial support and contribution to the society,” said Mr Kwesiga.

The Speaker responded: “The amendment Bill [introduced in the 10th Parliament] did not comply with article 93 of the Constitution; it can only be introduced by government and as Parliament, we commit to ensure it is enacted in the shortest time possible.”

Support to the Red Cross, said Speaker Among, 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.

“You will always see the Red Cross in places where disasters have occurred; we thank you for providing that critical humanitarian assistance to Ugandans and you remain a vital component of disaster response to the country,” she said.

Mr Kwesiga said the Red Cross has a financing framework with government through the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Prime Minister, but getting the resources, he said, remains difficult.

“We get limited budget support to our office through the Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Health, but this has challenges; we used to get Shs11 billion from Ministry of Health, but this Financial Year, it was reduced to Shs5 billion,” he said.

He added: “Through Office of the Prime Minister, we had reached an understanding of Shs12 billion, but we have never got it.”

Speaker Among said the amendment can decisively address the financing challenges, and tasked Commissioner of Parliament Hon Mathias Mpuuga to coordinate with Red Cross for speedy introduction of the Bill to give a proper legal framework to the organisation’s humanitarian works.