THE UGANDA RED CROSS SOCIETY

UGANDA RED CROSS SOCIETY (URCS)

DISSEMINATION SESSION

BY

Mugisha Sam
Branch Manager - Apac
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 The Origin of Uganda Red Cross society
• 1939 – Founded by a community of women in Entebbe.
• 1941 – Became British Red Cross – Uganda Branch.
• 1964 – Recognized by an Act of Parliament of Uganda (Red
Cross Act Cap 30).
• In 1965 URCS was admitted to IFRC and ICRC respectively.
• URCS is an auxiliary to the Gov’t of Uganda in provision of
Humanitarian Services during times of emergencies.
• URCS collaborates with Govt of Uganda, UN, RC NS, CSO
and private corporate entities etc
• URCS has 5000.000 volunteers countrywide and reached
20 million beneficiaries (2020-2023)
• Has 51 branches and 30 sub branches countrywide that
support emergency response on ground working with local
communities in their areas.
 OUR VISION
To be a partner of choice in Uganda in saving lives, building
resilient Communities and promoting Human dignity

OUR MISION
To full fill the URCS mandate and obligation in delivering
quality and sustainable humanitarian assistance.

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 Fundamental Principles
URCS is guided by the
fundamental principles
which are the basis for the
RC/RC Movement works.
These principles are at the
core of URCS’ unbiased
response to emergencies
geared towards saving
lives.
 Humanity
• Protection and respect for humanity.
• Promotion of Health and life.
• To prevent and alleviate human suffering.
Impartiality
• Serving humanity without discrimination as to
Nationality, race, sex, religious beliefs, class or
political opinions.
• To relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided
solely by their needs.
• There is always no good or bad victim
 Neutrality
• Does not take sides or engage at any time in
political, racial, religious, or ideological
debate/Conflicts.
• Does not judge.
• There is no good or bad cause. Our cause is
assisting the victim.
 Independence
• The National Society, while Auxiliaries in the
humanitarian services of their governments , must
always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able
at all times to act in accordance with the Fundamental
Principles.
• No external influence, no strings attached.

Voluntary Service
• Voluntary relief society, volunteers not making money
(no profit gain)
 Unity
• One Country One National Society.
• Open to All

Universality
Solidarity among the Movement (Global)
 Core Focus Areas
Pandemic & Epidemic Water Sanitation and
response Hygiene Keep a girl in School

URCS supports URCS’ water, URCS has set up a

Min. of Health sanitation & sanitary pad
with Community hygiene programs manufacturing plant in
Engagement, target refugee Namakwa Mukono
Ambulance communities, aimed at improving
response, risk Cholera hotspots the lives of over 50000
communication, and emergencies vulnerable Ugandan
Screening at entry ie landslides, Girs who were priory
points, dropping out of school
floods and
disinfecting public due to lack of pads to
internally
places etc .. Ebola, using during their
displaced persons
monthly cycles
COVID-19 etc
 Core Focus Areas
First Aid and Blood Donor Recruitment Disaster Preparedness
Ambulance Services & Mobilization and response

URCS coordinates URCS sensitizes the URCS responds to

community public on the need communities
preparedness for to donate blood affected by disasters
emergency and mobilises often triggered by
rescue through voluntary blood climate change
ambulance donors through buying relief
services, first Aid countrywide items, distributing &
response, restructuring broken
training, road facilities. Current
safety and first focus if on early
aid equipment warning and early
action
 The International Humanitarian Law
Where to find IHL?
Four Geneva Conventions of 1949
• First Geneva Convention: Protects wounded and sick armed forces
on Land
• Second Geneva Convention: Protects wounded, Sick and ship
wrecked armed forces of sea.
• Third Geneva Convention: Protects prisoners of War.
• Fourth Geneva Convention: Protects Civilians during war.
Additional Protocols to the Geneva Convention
• Additional Protocol 1 (1977) that strengthens the protection of victims of
international armed conflicts.
• Additional Protocol II (1977), that strengthens the protection of victims
of non international armed Conflict.
• Additional Protocol III (2005), that established the new Emblem the Red
Crystal
 Uganda Red Cross Programs - DRM
What do we Do in Preparedness?
Disaster preparedness. Early Warning
and Early Actions
• Capacities of District Disaster Management
Committees (DDMC), District Task Forces
(DTFs), Community Based Disaster Risk
Reduction built.
• Emergency water treatment units
establishment.
• Training in WASH, First Aid etc
• Community Mapping and Risk Analysis
• Risk Communication & Community
engagement
• Information Sharing on early warnings etc
• ETC
 URCS Programs Cont’d

Disaster Response

• First Aid and Evacuations during

disasters, riots etc.
• Provision of Relief e.g. NFIs or CVA
during disasters like Floods, Bomb
blasts, landslides, drought etc.
• Risk Communication & Comm.
Engagement.
 WHAT WE DO

First Aid training Communities and Corporates and First Aid on Public function
/Emergencies
 HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

Social mobilization for Routine Immunization Blood donation

WASH Activities Malaria Control program

Youth camps Blood Donation

Community Service
First Aid Services by URCS members
International Youth Exchange & Friendship

Dissemination Road Safety

Uganda Red Cross Society serves all people regardless of their nationality, race, political differences and religious beliefs.

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Red Cross volunteers give assistance to
every one.

Uganda Red Cross Society is committed

to assisting every one every where.

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 URCS Membership
No. Type of membership Membership fees Annual Subscription
1 Enrolled membership 50,000/= 20,000/=
2 Youth membership Junior 5000/= 2000/=
3 Youth membership Senior 20,000/= 5,000/=
4 Platinum membership USD 500 (cash or USD 100
in kind)
5 Youth Links registration 50,000/= 20,000/=
6 Gender Groups 100,000/= 50,000/=
7 Corporate membership - 2,000,000/=
Bronze
8 Corporate membership - Silver 2,000,000/=
9 Corporate membership - Gold 5,000,000/=
 Quote for the Day!
“Everything that can be counted does
not necessarily count; everything that
counts cannot necessarily be counted”

- Albert Einstein
 THE END
Thank you for your attention!!
For further information please
visit:
Website: www.redcrossug.org
Face book: Uganda Red Cross Society
Uganda Red Cross Society-Apac Branch
Email: urcs.apac@redcrossug.org
Telephone +256 779922572

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