The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among has said parliament is set to retable the Red Cross Amendment bill, which was passed by the 10th parliament but not signed into law by the president.
“As Parliament and indeed myself as speaker, we commit to use our offices with relevant government structures to offer you the needed technical and political support to ensure to ensure this bill is passed into law,” Among said in a speech read for her by the Soroti Municipality MP, Herbert Ariko during a Uganda Red Cross national council meeting in Kampala on Saturday.
The bill among others seeks to legally formalize the auxiliary role of Uganda Red Cross with the government of Uganda and other public authorities.
It recognizes Uganda Red Cross’ auxiliary role across disaster risk management and humanitarian response in situations of armed conflict and other situations of violence, disasters and public health emergencies.
It further highlights the Uganda Red Cross Society’s commitment to promoting and disseminating International Humanitarian Law, Disaster Law and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Speaking on Saturday, Speaker Among said strengthening the role of Uganda Red Cross reinforces its mandate by allowing the organisation to operate more effectively and efficiently.
“We shall ensure Uganda Red Cross gets all the necessary support politically and financially to ensure you offer the necessary services to Ugandans,” Among said.
According to Robert Kwesiga, the Secretary General of the Uganda Red Cross Society the bill is a significant step for Uganda Red Cross Society to better reach and help vulnerable communities.
“It was passed by the last parliament and should have been among those recalled when this parliament came in office but it stayed with the President. We have been guided we have to restart it as the best way to move forward but in all this, we are starting from a positive point strength that it was already debated by parliament,”Kwesiga said.