By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: With humanitarian response being a crucial issue in Uganda amidst wanting funding, Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) has made a step to reach out to general public seeking to raise funds in the dubbed ‘HUMANITY NEEDS YOU’ Campaign.
This comes in the same month when URCS will be celebrating 60 years of serving humanity.
The Campaign that will run for six months seeks to solicit funds from the general public, Private entities, government agencies, Civil Society organizations, international community in a bid to cater for the range of humanitarian activities at hand.
Even when URCS was instituted by an Act of Parliament Cap30, after Uganda became a signatory to the Geneva Convention of 1964, funding from government is a very small fraction compared to the range of activities they respond to, calling for exploration of vast avenues to execute.
Robert Kwesiga, the Secretary General of Uganda Red Cross Society stressed that with great global economies focusing on issues in their backyard, say wars in Ukraine and Gaza, Ugandan issues remain secondary which cause for us (Ugandans) to directly involve in our own issues, says, this can be done through being a partner, member or volunteer.
Mr. Robert Kwesiga speaking.
As earlier noted, Mr. Kwesiga revealed that URCS gets funding from government, International funding partners, multilateral organizations, public and private companies but this is not enough. He noted, international funding organizations have specific priorities and this deprive other crucial areas that need intervention. He pointed out areas like blood donation program, road safety and others that are not a primary priority to international funders, ‘hence being left for us to handle, we could do more but limited funds hold us back’.
“Therefore, ‘HUMANITY NEEDS YOU’ Campaign looks at sustainability element by having everybody on board to add value in scaling up the mandate of URCS since issues to be tackled haven’t ceased. Therefore there’s no way our mandate can be sustained by entirely relying on international partners.” He noted.
“The Campaign will climax with ‘HUMANITARIAN FUND’ that will be overseen by a team of trustees and international audit firm to ensure transparency and accountability. Ugandans can contribute to the fund through partner telecom, MTN by dialing *165*4*4# enter Merchant Code and follow prompts. We shall also carry out physical Campaigns around communities, Churches, schools, within key actors for advocacy, CSOs, and others.” He added.
In this endeavor, Uganda Red Cross Society partners with Uganda’s leading media houses, the Nation Media Group (NMG) and Vision Group as flagships in championing this cause to the general Public.
Speaking to Media, Businge, the Business Manager at Nation Media Group pledged to run transformative stories resonating with URCS mandate of serving community.
“Public participation is very crucial, so the general is important in this endeavor. Our role is to make the public know that they can fund Red Cross’ cause. If anyone comes out to serve people, we’re there because without people we’re no where.” He assured.
NEED FOR FUNDING
BLOOD DONATION.
World Health Organization recommends that if a country raised 1% of the units of blood per the population, it could be enough to sustain it, with Uganda estimated to have had the population totaling to 45 million people in 2023, we were supposed to produce 45000units of bloods but unfortunately, Uganda Red Cross Society has reported that Uganda was able to only collect about 30,000units leaving a gap of 15,000units.
DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT.
Uganda has had several occurrences in areas of Kasese and Elgon areas in the year 2023 and such has at a less extent found a lasting solution as the magnitude of response needs surpassed the capacity of the society hence calling for funding.