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The HumanitarianAll you need to know about Uganda Red Cross Society activities

January - March 2008

To improve the quality of lives of themost vulnerable people in Uganda as aneffective and efficient humanitarianorganization

An empowered, healthy and self-sustain-ing community that responds to the needsof the most vulnerable

Our Mission Our Vission

The Humanitarian January - March 2008 1

EditorialThe various activites that theUganda Red Cross has engaged inthis period have boosted theNational Society’s image.

The visit of the British royal cou-ple to the URCS youth link at StJosephs SS Nagalama is a memo-rable moment for the Society asthis was an opportunity of a life-time and exposed URCS activitiesto the international community.

URCS’ engagement in the rescueof the victims of the collapsedbuilding at Nalya in Kampala East,the fight against malaria throughmosquito net distribution through-out the country, the fight againstEbola and the installation of waterand sanitation facilities in the var-ious parts of the country did notonly help improve the lives of thevulnerable but also created trustin URCS by partners includingUganda’s corporate world.

The floods recovery programmethat URCS has undertaken in theeast will further boost trust inthe Society at the grassroot.

Editorial teamDesign and layout; Hasifa

Kabejja

Editorial adviser;Catherine Ntabadde

Photos by CatherineNtabadde, Hasifa Kabejja,

Charles Nsamba andLawrence Lutaaya

PrinciplesHumanityImpartialityNeutrality

Independence Voluntary service

UnityUniversality

Inside

Page 5URCS helps govt

to scale downEbola

Page 7Dissemination

services extend-ed to Karamoja

Page 8URCS installs IT

equipment inbranches

By Catherine Ntabadde

The Uganda Red CrossSociety (URCS) in line withits goal of being a volun-tary relief movement notdriven by desire for gainrecently launched water &sanitation and malaria andimmunisation projects inBusoga sub-region.

The four-year project willcover the districts ofKamuli, Mayuge, Igangaand Tororo. During theofficial launch in Igangatown, Mr Robert Ssebunya,the vice-chairperson ofURCS Central Governing Board saidmalaria was a number one nationwidekiller as many lives have been lost tothe disease in Uganda.

Mr Ssebunya said the Red Crossmalaria control programme targetingvector control had gone ahead to docommendable work in all operationaldistricts. He emphasized the need forprevention of disease attacks thanwaiting to treat patients.

Mr Ssebunya observed that duringtime spent in school, many people areadvised to drink boiled water only butmany still consume unboiled water. Hehanded to the field team six laptops,12 bicycles, 120 gumboots, five motor-

cycles, mosquito nets and other items.

As part of the project, 40 districttrainers as well as several others at sub-county levels were trained. Their mainjob is to ensure the programme runssmoothly in their respective areas ofoperation.

Mr Patrick Wandawa, a senior pro-gramme officer, said he was in chargeof implementing the water and sanita-tion programme while Mr AbduMasaba took charge of the malariaand immunisation sector. "My dutiescover educating people to realize theimportance of latrines and other goodpractices which boost domestic sanita-tion," Mr Wandawa said.He said a number of people still need-

ed to be reminded aboutwashing their hands aftervisiting the toilet. MrWandawa put the annualoperational budget ofwater and sanitation proj-ect in the four districts atSh350m. "For the immu-nisation and malaria sec-tor the yearly cost in theoperational districts isSh215m," Mr Masabasaid.

Mr Ssebunya said it wasembarrassing that after45 years of Uganda'sindependence many serv-ices that would be obvi-ous are still lacking.

"Ensure the facilities that come withthe programme are not misused. Don'tuse the project bicycle or motorcycleto take your wife or children forleisure rides," Mr Ssebunya cautioned.Ms Connie Bwire, the Tororo districtnursing officer, said Red Cross haddone a lot of work in the area includ-ing improving the environment.

"We have better reproductive healthprogrammes, quick response to emer-gencies and increased voluntary blooddonations," Bwire said. She said theHIV/AIDS awareness now stood at90% although condom distributionoutlets were yet to be demarcated.

WWaattssaann pprroojjeecctt llaauunncchheedd iinn IIggaannggaa

URCS Vice Chairman Robert Ssebunya (2nd R) trys out a motorcycle dur-ing the launch of the water and sanitation programme in Iganga. Lookingon are other Iganga district officials.

Water and Sanitation

2008 graduandsVicto Nandyose is a vol-unteer under tracing inthe DisasterManagementDepartment. Shereceived a BachelorsDegree in Social Sciencesfrom MakerereUniversityon 30th January.

AllenNyangoma was awarded aBachelors inArts Degreeat MakerereUniversity on31st January,2008.

2 The Humanitarian January - March 2008

Stephen Asimwepassed away on 8thFebruary. He servedas a driver at theUganda Red CrossSaociety for tensyears. May his soulrest in eternalpeace.

Obituary


Water and Sanitation

By Hasifa Kabejja

Uganda Red CrossSociety with financialsupport from theGerman governmentthrough the GermanRed Cross has launcheda water and sanitationproject worth 400,000euros in Oyam districtto uplift the lives of vul-nerable people after 20years of the Lord'sResistance Army insur-gency.

URCS started implement-ing the project on 15thSeptember 2007 and it isexpected to go on up to15th May 2008.It is aimed at improvingaccess to safe drinkingwater as well as to improve hygieneand health of 19,000 former inter-nally displaced people who are inthe process of resettling in the foursub counties of Minakulu, Ngai,Otwal and Iceme in Oyam districtin northern Uganda.The four sub counties were theworst-affected in the district by theLRA insurgency.

According to the URCS water andsanitation project officer in Oyamdistrict, Mr Henry Odong, sixsprings have been protected, fourboreholes drilled and 25 boreholesrehabilitated in all the sub counties.Five drainable pit latrines have beenconstructed, one per Sub County.Two latrines are being constructedin Iceme Sub County due to its bigpopulation.Speaking at the commissioning ofone of the drilled boreholes at

Amwa Demonstration School inMinakulu sub county on 13thMarch, Mr Harry Van Putten, theGerman Red Cross water and sani-tation project coordinator, saidOyam is a pilot district for theproject but they expect to rolloutto other districts. He pledged moresupport in the resettlement ofIDPs.

"We want to support Oyam districtin her recovery programmes ofresettling the returnees from IDPcamps by providing the basic needsof the people among which is waterand sanitation," Mr Putten said.Amwa Demonstration School andAmwa Progressive which are someof the beneficiaries of the boreholehave 1,523 pupils and 400 studentsrespectively. Over 2,000 people inMinakulu Sub County are expectedto benefit from the borehole.The headmaster of Amwa

Demonstration School,Mr Richard Otine,appreciated the effortsof Red Cross takingwater closer to theircommunity, saying itwill save residents fromcollecting water 2kmsaway from their homes.

Oyam district LC5Chairman, Mr OkelloEngola Macodwogo,said water is the biggestchallenge in the districtsince most of the waterpoints in the area weredestroyed by the Lord'sResistance Army rebelsduring the 20 years ofinsurgency in thenorth.

"We are so grateful that you havecome to empower us. We shallensure that the water sources arewell protected, Mr Engola told adelegation of Uganda Red Crossand German Red Cross officialswho participated in the launch.

He said under the recovery pro-gramme in the sector of agriculture,returnees are encouraged to culti-vate quick yielding crops like up-land rice, soya-beans, sunflowers inorder to improve their nutrition.

Residents of Odokorai village whichis also in Minakulu Sub Countycould not hold back excitement asRed Cross officials drove into theirvillage to commission one of theprotected springs. They danced andsang several songs praising the RedCross as some rushed to the spring

URCS Deputy Secretary General Michael Nataka drinks water froma borehole constructed at Amwa Demonstration School in OyamDistrict under the URCS water and sanitation programme. Lookingon are Mr Harry Van Putten (R), the German Red Cross water andsanitation delegate and the District Chairman Okello Engola.

Oyam District water coverage improved

Turn to page 16

Red Cross assists victims of city collapsed building

By Hasifa Kabejja

Uganda Red Cross Society did commendablework in saving the lives of the victims of a col-lapsed building at St Peters Nalya SS inKampala East by offering first aid and ambu-lance services.

The Red Cross volunteers carried victims toambulances and were fast to administer first aidon every person who was rescued alive fromthe rubbles.

The four-storey building that collapsed on 30thJanuary, killed 11 people and injured 12. Sevenpeople survived without injuries. Police identi-fied some of the dead as Joseph Osinde, KaloliMuhwezi, Andrew Wako, Isma Mulika, DanielWambi, Justus Akankwasa, Julius Kyankundaalias Mulaasi, James Niiwabiine and AlexAssimwe.

The Police, engineers and residents blamed thecollapse on shoddy work. One of the survivorssaid they used to mix one bag of cement withseven wheel barrows of sand. According toconstruction rules, one bag of cement shouldbe mixed with only one wheel barrow of sand.

Architects and engineers, led by HousingMinister Michael Werikhe Kafabusa, discoveredthat the building foundation was designed fortwo floors but it had four.

Criminal Investigation detectives arrested twoofficials of Kira Town Council, the town engi-neer, Samuel Mwesigwa and the physical plan-ner, Mr Godfrey Kato, in connection with theincident.“The two are with us to help with the investiga-tions,” Police spokesman, Gabriel Tibayunga,said. “They were taken for interrogationbecause they were responsible for authorisingthe plan and supervising the construction.”Works Minister John Nasasira, who visited the

First Aid services

site on the day the accidentoccurred, announced that the gov-ernment would come out withstern measures to ensure that peo-ple who construct storey buildingsadhere to new construction guide-lines.

The incident is not the first of itskind. In 2004, a building collapsedin Bwebajja on Entebbe Road andkilled 27 people. The City of theLord Church in Kalerwe also col-

lapsed in 2006 and killed 28 people.Several other buildings within andoutside the city have collapsed inthe previous years and all the inci-dents have been blamed on shoddywork.

Uganda Red Cross Society throughits Disaster Management pro-gramme and with assistance fromvolunteers has been very instru-mental in providing first aid servic-es during these incidents.

URCS volunteers display a stretcher for victims of the collapsed building inNaalya, Kampala East.



What should have resulted into deciding the future leader of Kenya turned into election violence then tribal clashes, dis-placing over 12,000 Kenyans into Uganda. These have since been declared refugees.

Day by day, they would cross either through Malaba, Busia, Manafwa, Kapchorwa or Bukwo seeking refuge in their neigh-bouring country Uganda. The Kikuyus, Luos and Klegins decided to fight each other, one tribe accusing the other of voterigging. From December 27, 2007 todate (April 2008), the Kenyan refugees had to learn to survive as refugees even whenmost of them where well off in their own country. The displacement followed the declaration of President Mwai Kibaki asthe new President of Kenya. The results were disputed by Orange Democratic Movement opposition leader Raila Odinga.

The suffering of the Kenyan refugees in Uganda was however lessened when humanitarian organisations like Uganda RedCross Society intervened to support them and manage the centres that were initially at Malaba and Busia. URCS was the firstorganisation to intervene and manage the refugee reception centres which were initially schools; St. Jude Primary SchoolMalaba and Busia Integrated Primary School. URCS distributed over 30, 000 non food items to refugees who where trans-ferred to Mulanda Transit camp. The camp is still under the management of URCS with UNHCR carrying out the overallcoordination. The NFIs distributed include mosquito nets, cooking pots, jerrycans, blankets, soap, tarpaulins, cups, plates.

Since the camps were initially stationed at schools, the refugees from Busia and Malaba together with refugees from Bukwo,Kapchorwa and Manafwa had to be re-located to Mulanda in Tororo a former technical institute. However not all therefugees were willing to be re-located. Some preferred to stay nearer to the border so as to easily monitor the situation acrossthe border while others decided to stay with relatives or rent houses.

Relief distributionURCS distributed more NFIs to the refugees at Mulanda including those from Manafwa, Bukwo and Kapchorwa who hadnot initially received.

As you arrive at Mulanda, you can easily notice that it is a refugee transit camp. The over 400 UNHCR cream tents say it all.Other players in the operations included UN-OCHA, WFP, UNICEF, Save the Children, Office of Prime Minister, TororoDistrict Local Government, community members, Police (for security), ICRC, IFRC , MSF, Salvation Amry, World Vision,Christian Children's Fund, Rotary Club, Plan Uganda, The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) among others.

URCS constructed twenty pit latrines of four stances each and 15 bath shelters. Red Cross also provide tracing services, car-ried out sensitisation on hygiene and community sensitisation so that the communities accept the Kenyan refugees. Therefugees had access to safe and clean water, thanks to UNICEF. Each family had a charcoal stove and charcoal which enabledthem prepare meals provided by the Prime Minister's Office and WFP. The charcoal stoves and charcoal were provided byGOAL, Salvation Army.

The number of children at the camp was over 300. These had their education affected since they couldn't return to Kenya tocontinue with their studies. Good enough, Save the Children embarked on the school project within the camp to take care ofthe children.During midday every day, it was time to play for the children. A number of games were introduced to keep the children lively.

The situation in Kenya has normalised with the power sharing between President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister RailaOdinga but the refugees at Mulanda seem to have found a new home in Uganda. As of March 31, 2008, Mulanda had 1, 907refugees.

British Royal honour

By Hasifa Kabejja

It was jubilations as the Prince of Walesand the Dutches of Cornwall visited St.Josephs SSS Nagalama on 24thNovember, 2007.

On arrival at the school, the couple wastreated to different traditional dances andsongs by the students.

The Prince and his wife Camila had visit-ed the school to witness some of the keyactivities carried out by the Red CrossClub. The Red Cross Club at St. Joseph’sSecondary School is among the 1917youth clubs/links in different institutionsthat contribute to the over 150, 000membership and volunteer force in thecountry.

Through these links, students are taughtRed Cross principles and values and areempowered to take the lead in humanitar-ian work. A student of the Red CrossClub took the Prince, his wife Camila andother visiting delegates through a blooddonation session, explaining to them theprocedure followed in donating bloodand its benefits. Their Royal Highnessesalso toured an exhibition at which first

aid kits and HIV sensitization materialswere displayed.

The students in the Red Cross Club alsodemonstrated the major causes of acci-dents in Uganda and the kind of firstaid that can be administered. The Princewas irked by the causes of accidents butwas impressed by the timely response.“The rescue is timely and the first aidvery good to resuscitate the victims. Butwhy do they (motorcyclists) have tocarry so many people and drive reckless-ly?” he asked.

The Chairman of the Uganda Red CrossSociety, Mr Tom Buruku, commended StJosephs Nagalama for having impartedthe Red Cross skills and values into thestudents, to enable them take the lead inhumanitarian activities.

Mr Buruku thanked the Prince for thesupport the National Society receivesfrom the UK, especially from British RedCross and DFID to enable it improve thequality of lives of Ugandans. He alsocommended other partners like theEuropean Union, Danish Red Cross andthe International Committee of the RedCross for the support rendered to URCS.

Prince Charles visits RedCross Club in Mukono Branch

A student in the Red Cross Club of St Josephs Nagalama explains to the Prince and otherdelegates some the Red Cross activities.


The Uganda Red Cross Societyhas received 750, 000 SwissFrancs from UBS OptimusFoundation to implement athree-year education projectaimed at improving the qualityof lives and the learning envi-ronment orphans and disadvan-taged children.

Through Wakiso branch, URCSwill build a school in Kasangati,Wakiso District to cater for 600orphans. As a result ofAIDS/HIV that prevails in thecountry, a number of childrenhave either lost a parent or bothparents. These children rarelyhave the opportunity to go toschool.

The school will offer childrenfree education at primary andsecondary levels.

As a way to self-sustain theschool project, various incomegenerating activities are beingintegrated into the everyday lifeof the school. The children willbe trained in chicken and fishfarming as well as pig breeding.The children will also be educat-ed about HIV/AIDS, malaria,hygiene, safety on the streetsand children’s rights.

Education URCS gets funds for education project


Services extended to KaramojaBy Catherine Ntabadde

For the Karamajongs, a Red Cross emblem does not mean anything to them. In facnt they do not know what it repre-sents although they can ably tell that the Red Cross emblem is different from the blue emblem commonly used by hospi-tals, drug stores and health centres.

One official from Moroto Local Government wondered how the Red Cross emblem can protect the Red CrossMovement during their operations. "How can the emblem protect you when there is war? Why don't you have escortswhen travelling to areas of insecurity? the participant asked.This was after Mr. Charles Oneka, a Dissemination Focal Persontold participants during a dissemination exercise that officialsfrom the Red Cross Movement are not allowed to havearmy escorts even when they are operating in a war tornarea because the emblem acts as a symbol of protec-tion and identification.

Karamoja sub region is not alone. Several peopleare ignorant about the Red Cross Emblem. That iswhy URCS carries out dissemination activities inthe Karamoja sub region and other districtswhere its operates to sensitise Ugandans aboutthe abuse of emblem, International HumanitarianLaw and the seven principles of the Red Crossand Red Crescent Movement.

Participants were also sensitised about the roles andactivities of Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS),National Societies, International Federation of the RedCross/Red Crescent (IFRC) and International Committeeof the Red Cross (ICRC).

The trainings are characterised with visuals detailing the messagesdisseminated to participants.

To some people, URCS is a medical or health provider.A participant asked one of the URCS officials inMoroto after she introduced herself whether she was anurse.

Participants were informed that no organisation apart from the Red Cross Movement, Army Medical Units should usethe Red Cross emblem. The participants were warned against misusing the emblem as it negatively portrays the image ofthe URCS and the other Red Cross Movement.

The Army Medical units authorized to use a Red Cross emblem must be a distance from the Army barracks even whenthey are located within the barracks for purposes of neutrality since the medical units are meant to support any injuredor anybody who needs the service.

During all the dissemination exercises, volunteer dissemination teams are also trained to disseminate within their commu-nities.

Dissemination

URCS Public Relations Officer Catherine Ntabadde chats withKarimojong in Moroto. She was in the region to educate residentsabout Red Cross principles and values.


By Allen Nyangoma

The Uganda Red Cross Society in October and November 2007installed IT equipment at various society branches in the districtsof Soroti, Amuria, Katakwi, Lira, Mbale and at the headquarter.

The installation was done by the URCS radio team with help fromthe International Federation of Red Cross to help boost the com-munication capacity of branches in the flood-affected districts.

The items installed included HF and VHF base stations. The teamalso installed one desktop PC, a printer and a UPS in the Katakwioffice. Two desktop PCs and one UPS were also installed in Lira.The computers in Lira were also updated with Antivirus soft-ware.

Radios were also installed in most of URCS vehicles to ease com-munication for drivers. Forty VH radio handsets were handed outto URCS staff who were initially trained how to operate them.

The installation has eased communication among the branchesin the districts that were severely affected by the floods. Branchescan now communicate countrywide.

Communication and IT

URCS installs IT equipment in branches

URCS senior radio operator Ismail Mutumba and Entebbe BFC MawandaShaban install radios at the Soroti Branch.

Mr. Hannington Ssegirinya after receiv-ing the award from Geneva.


The Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) Youth inDecember won an award in the category of"Reducing the impact of diseases and public healthemergencies", for the innovative approach combin-ing all elements of the Red Cross/Red Crescentglobal HIV strategy: prevention, care, treatmentand support, anti-stigma, advocacy and in activepartnership with young people living with HIV.

The award is dubbed 'Youth together for humanityAward 2007". The award reads as follows, "IFRC isproud to reward the youth of URCS for their pro-gramme HIV and AIDS Home Based Care, show-ing how youth make a difference by workingtogether.”

The award was established by IFRC and RedCrescent Youth Commission to recognize the con-tribution of youth volunteers to the GlobalAgenda goals of the IFRC/RC. This programmewas selected as the best among the applicants inthe category "Reducing the Impact of Disease andPublic Health emergencies."As part of the award, the URCS youth also won alaptop from IFRC/RC.

Shaban re-electedMeanwhile, the Branch Field Coordinator ofEntebbe, Mr. Shaban Mawanda has been re-nomi-nated to the International Federation of RedCross/Red Crescent (IFRC) Youth Commission toserve for the 2007/09 tenure.

Shaban was until early 2007 the National YouthCouncil Chairman. He was replaced by Mr.Hannington Ssegirinya.Members of the IFRC Youth Commission repre-sent African youths to the federation.The Commission is an advocacy forum wheremembers propose priorities of work on behalf ofthe youths in Africa.

Youth win award



Uganda Red Cross activi

Some of the people who participated in the 2007 MTN Marathon. The proceeds from the marathon

were given to URCS to assist the vulnerable people in the north and eastern parts of the country.

Some of the ladies who attenddinner is held every year to ranorth. The Mama Bag kit cont

URCS staff Patrick Wandawa (L), Edward Sekduring the 2007 end of year party.Students of the Red Cross Club at St Josephs SS Nagalama perform a first aid skit for Prince

Charles (in gray suit) and his wife Camila.

ities in pictures

ded the URCS fundraising dinner on 26th November, 2007. Theaise fundsfor the Mama Bag kit for expectant mothers in thetains equipment an expectant mother uses during delivery.

The URCS Deputy Secretary General, Mr Michael Nataka (L), hands reliefitems to Kenya refugees at Mulanda in Tororo District.

kayiba (C) and Bruce Ntege exchange giftsDiamond Trust Bank Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Varghese Thambi (C) and another

DTB official (R), hand some of the non food items donated to by the bank to Kenya

refugees to the Uganda Red Cross Society Chairman, Mr Tom Buruku (2nd L). The

bank donated tarpaulins, jerrycans, blankets and mosquito nets. Looking on is

URCS Deputy Secretary General, Mr Richard Michael Nataka.



Red Cross participates in World AIDS Day celebrationsBy Catherine Ntabadde

Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS)through its Kampala South andKampala East branches on December1, 2007 participated in the World AidsInternational celebrations at GabaLanding site.The two branches were involved inthe assembling of various categoriesof people like home care projectbeneficiaries volunteers and other

branch volunteers and officers fromboth branches.

URCS exhibited different materials anditems like Information, Education andCommunication materials and handi-crafts by Positive Living clubs from thetwo branches.

There was distribution of condomsbefore and during the celebrations.URCS takes part in the HIV preven-

tion campaign through condom usepromotion use and distribution.Presentations for the day were made

through music with HIV/AIDs aware-ness and prevention messages encour-aging the youth to abstain, the marriedto be faithfulness, accessing Preventionof Mother to Child Transmission serv-ices for the pregnant women and sensi-tization on how to access VoluntaryCounseling and Testing services afterknowing one’s status.

By Charles Nsamba

Uganda Red CrossSociety has distributed62,500 insecticide treatedmosquito nets in 15 dis-tricts in its campaign tostamp out malaria.

The target groups areOrphans and VulnerableChildren (OVC), PeopleLiving with HIV andAIDS and expectantmothers.

Speaking at the launchof the campaign atNakawa Division head-quarters, the SecretaryGeneral, Mrs. Alice Uwase Anukur,appealed to the public to invest inmosquito nets to prevent deathsdue to malaria.

“We have to continue the fightagainst malaria by keeping the mos-quito net up,” Mrs Anukur said.“Apart from keeping the net up,you should shut windows in theevening, slash all the bushes around

your homes and clear off any stag-nant water to avoid harbouringmosquitoes.”

The Chairman of the BranchCentral Governing Board, Mr.Kaganda Godfrey, commendedUganda Red Cross Society forestablishing and supporting thePost Test Club of people livingwith HIV/Aids by among othersdistributing mosquito nets free

of charge.

In Uganda, malaria hashistorically been a veryserious health problem andcurrently poses the mostsignificant threat to thehealth of the population.

Malaria is spread from abite of a mosquito. Whena mosquito bites an infect-ed person, it ingests themalaria parasites found inthat person’s blood. Aftera week or more, the mos-quito can spread the para-site to other people.

According to the Ministry ofHealth, malaria currently accountsfor 25-40% of all outpatients’ vis-its at health facilities, 20% of hos-pital admissions, 9-14% of in-patients deaths, a case-fatality rateof 3-5% (which is an under-esti-mate), 23% and 11% of deathsamong the under 5s in high andmedium malaria transmissionareas respectively.

Malaria campaign

URCS gives nets to 15 districts

Arua District Vector Control Officer Anguaku Anthony (2nd L) par-ticipates in the distribution of mosquito nets donate by UgandaRed Cross to residents of Katrinu Sub County in Arua.


The evening of 26thOctober, 2007 was a mem-orable day for the UgandaRed Cross Society (URCS)as the Society hosted over400 guests to itsFundraising Dinner whichyielded over Shs70 millionin soft and hard pledges,sale of cards and auctions.

The dinner which wasgraced by the Rt. Hon.Prime Minister of Uganda,Prof. Apollo Nsibambiaimed at raising funds toenable URCS supportexpectant mothers in theformerly flooded regions ofTeso and Lango and alsoexpectant mothers return-ing to their communitiesafter spending most oftheir lives in InternallyDisplaced Camps.

The money was used topurchase Mama Bag andReturn Kits for expectantmothers and families affect-ed by floods. The MamaBag contains tools usedduring delivery and thereturn kit contains farmingequipment.

The Mama Bag is a four-year project initiated byURCS with support from10 women volunteers on

Shs70m raised fromfundraising dinner

Mama Bag

the fundraising taskforce.The dinner was spiced up with a presentation aboutthe need to fundraise for this vulnerable group; theexpectant mothers returning to the communities andthose affected by floods between September andOctober 2007.

The guests were also treated to an eye catching docu-mentary highlighting the plight of the people affectedby floods in Northern and Lango regions, theNational Society’s operations in the flood hit regions,distributions of non food items and the general situa-tion of families hit by the floods. The documentarywas an offer from Nation TV Uganda (NTV) as partof their contribution to URCS’ flood appeal.

Guests included representatives of the corporateworld in Uganda, representatives of URCS’ donorsand partners, URCS board members and staff.The Prime Minister said the Government has for thepast one and half years been engaged in peace talkswith the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) to see thatpeople in Northern and Eastern Uganda enjoy peace.In the President’s speech read by Prof. Nsibambi, the

President said,“As a result of the peacenegotiations, majority offamilies have returned totheir communities fromIDP camps. These peopleinclude expectant motherswho need your support tore-start their lives. That iswhy the Mama Bag projectimplemented by UgandaRed Cross Society is animportant project supple-menting Government’sefforts,” he said.

URCS Central BoardGoverning Chairman TomBuruku thanked the organ-ising committee whichincluded the 9 women vol-unteers who worked tire-lessly to see that the eventtakes place. He said theMama Bag project followeda needs assessment byURCS in IDP camps whichrevealed that much as every-one is vulnerable, there weregender specific needs forexpectant mothers due tobreak down of health facili-ties and infrastructure.

Mr. Buruku said this year,URCS intends to supportexpectant mothers in 2, 000households through differ-ent local fundraising eventslike the fundraising dinner,Golf tournament and MTNInternational Marathon.


Some of the URCS board members who attended the din-ner at Hotel Africana in Kampala.

By Hasifa Kabejja

The Uganda Red Cross Societyhas trained 215 taxi drivers inIganga District in road safety.

URCS chose Iganga due to thehigh rate of accidents on theTororo-Iganga-Jinja highway.

Speaking during the training inIganga town, a consultant on roadsafety hired by URCS, Mr PaulKwamusi, said 80% fatalities occuron this road. He blamed the highnumber of fatalities on carelessdriving, the narrowness of theroad, lack of knowledge on roadsigns and the big number of highperformance vehicles.

Mr Kwamusi explained to thedrivers the meaning of the differ-ent road signs. He cautioned thedrivers to stop over speeding andalso appealed to the governmentto speed up construction of theroad and to improve the conditionof roads in the country.

The Iganga traffic chief, MrFrancis Okello, said over 75% ofthe motorists in Iganga districthave forged driving permits. Headded that many turn-boys weremasquerading as fully-fledgeddrivers of omnibuses. Mr Okellowarned that fake drivers would beapprehended.An official from URCS, Mr DanNsubuga, also gave drivers firstaid tips. He demonstrated to themhow to handle an accident victimand cautioned them to alwayshave first aid kits in their cars.

Red Cross trains drivers

Road safety


MTN Marathon


They run for fun and run for life in2007 to save a mother and anunborn child. These were over 6, 000participants in the MTNInternational Marathon of whichproceeds have come to Uganda RedCross Society (URCS) to support theMama Bag & Return Kit Project.

The project which is four years oldaims at supporting expectant moth-ers formerly in Internally DisplacedCamps and those in areas affected byfloods last year.

On April 1, 2008, MTN handed overa cheque of Shs 59 million to URCSfor the project. MTN SponsorshipManager Aggrey Kagonyera handedover the cheque to URCS' BoardChairman Tom Buruku andSecretary General Alice Uwase

Anukur. The function took place atURCS on Lumumba Avenue.

MTN through the annual MTNKampala Marathon partnered withURCS to raise funds for the MamaBag project. "It is a pleasure for us towork with the Uganda Red Crosssuch a reputable organization whosehumanitarian work has earned itworld-wide acclaim," said MTN PROSheila Kangwagye.

"Therefore from the time theyrequested us to partner with them inthis project, we have never lookedback. As a company that seeks towork in a happy environment, wepledge to continue our commitmentto this project."

Mr. Tom Buruku said the number ofparticipants at last year's marathonindicated how Ugandans are willing

MTN gives URCS Shs59mmarathon proceeds

Turn to page 14


By Hasifa Kabejja

Uganda Red Cross Society hasembarked on a Shs3 billionrecovery programme in theworst flood-affected Tesoregion districts of Amuriaand Katakwi to improve thestandard of living of thevulnerable communities.

URCS decided to implementthe programme in three worst-affected sub counties in each of thedistricts. In Amuria, the programme isbeing implemented in Acowa,Kapelebyong and Obalanga subcounties while in Katakwi it isUsuk, Ngarium and Ogongojasub counties that have benefited.

The programme is aimed at construct-ing flood-resistant shelters and pitlatrines for 10,000 households in thetwo districts and strengthening com-munities economically through seedsand tools distribution. It is also focus-ing on camp redesigning, afforestationand improvement ofwater and sanitation facilities in theaffected communities.

ShelterSpeaking during the launch of theprogramme at the URCS Soroti officeon 14th March, Mr Francis GombyaKiwanuka, the URCS estates officer,who is leading the shelter programme,said URCS will spend Shs160,000 onthe construction of each house.

He said URCS will provide hard warematerials like cement and iron sheetsand technical support during construc-

tion and the communities are expectedto provide raw materials like poles,fibre, grass and to actively participate

in the construction of their shel-ters. The communities have alsobeen tasked to mould bricks forconstruction.

One latrine will be constructedfor each household, according to

Mr Kiwanuka. “The shelters havebeen redesigned with raised floors

to mitigate the impact of floods incase they return. We have also recruit-ed and trained 240 volunteers who

have been dispatched to variouscommunities to help out in the con-struction process. So far 500 shel-ters have been put in place,” MrKiwanuka said.

When URCS officials visited one ofthe construction sites in Omorongoravillage in Ngarium Sub County on14th March, residents, especiallywomen were busy moulding bricks andfetching water for construction. Ateach site was a URCS volunteer help-ing in the construction. The residentsexpressed appreciation to URCS, say-ing it had stood with them throughout

URCS embarks on floods recovery programme Floods operation

URCS Vice Chairman Robert Ssebunya (L) pumpsa borehole constructed in Acowa Sub County,Amuria district. Washing hands is the AmuriaDistrict Chairman Julius Ocheing.

Turn to page 15

to support fellow Ugandans that arein need. He commended MTN forits continued support to URCS ini-tiatives.URCS Secretary General AliceUwase Anukur commended MTNfor the tremendous display of sup-port and affection it has shown tothe people of Northern Uganda forthe past four years after which shehighlighted the challenge that is stillahead in spite of the impending

peace deal and resettlement of thepeople back in their villages.

"Now that people are returning totheir homes, the Mama Bag Kit isno longer enough and that's whywe upgraded it to Mama andReturn Kit project so that expecwz-tant mothers can also receive seedsand tools," revealed Anukur."The Mama Bag Kit initiallyfocused on expectant mothers informerly IDP's but now that people

are returning home, more is neededas they strive to rebuild their liveli-hoods from scratch" she added.The URCS received UGX38mfrom the 2006 MTN KampalaMarathon and these proceeds wenttowards supporting about 2,000mothers and babies.This year, URCS is focusing onrecovery & rehabilitation of 10, 000most affected families through shel-ter, food security, water & sanitationinterventions.

MTN raises Shs59m for Mama BagFrom page 13


Teso flood victims aidedFloods operation

the difficult situations. However, somecommunities are against living thecamps yet the URCS shelter recoveryprogramme is village centered.

On afforestation, Mr Kiwanuka saidresidents will be given various treespecies depending on their needs andwill be encouraged to plant as manytrees as possible in their homesteads.URCS will also redesign the camps toreduce congestion which will in turnprevent many houses from beingburnt in case of a fire outbreak.

Food securityBased on the fact that 80% of thefood stuff in the Teso region wasdestroyed by floods, food securityremains precarious; therefore URCSunder its food security recovery pro-gramme is distributing seeds to 10,000households in Katakwi and Amuria toprepare for the next planting season.Among the seeds distributed aresorghum, cow peas, onions greens(dodo), egg plants and sukuma wik.

This is in addition to the 20,000 seedkits, hoes and knives that the URCSdistributed during the emergencyphase of the floods opera-tion. URCS foodsecurity officerReubenAyine saidduring therecovery pro-gramme, seedswill be distrib-uted to 5,000households in eachdistrict.

Amuria DistrictChairman Julius Ocheingappreciated URCS for itsintervention saying his people

were dependingon one meal a daydue to lack ofenough food.

He expressed dis-appointment atthe government’sslow interventionto save the floodvictims, saying ifthe floods moneyhad been given toURCS, people inthe affected com-munities would be better off based onthe National Society’s interventions inthe flood-affected districts.

Water and sanitationURCS has also implemented a waterand sanitation programme in the dis-tricts. Several boreholes have beensank in the various sub counties inAmuria district to provide residentswith safe water and slubs are ready forthe construction of pit latrines in theflood-affected communities. URCShas also trained volunteers to carry on

health promotion mes-sages in the flood-

affected communities.

Emergency phaseBefore the recov-

ery programme,URCS was

involved inemergencyinterven-

tions tomitigatethe

impact offloods in the Teso

region. During the pro-gramme that run from September

to December 2007, URCS distributednon food items to over 23,000 house-

holds. The items distributed includedtarpaulins, blankets, kitchen sets, buck-ets, jerrycans and mosquito nets.

URCS also run a water treatment plantthat provided 195,000 litres of puri-fied water to 316 households inAmaseniko IDP camp in Amuria dis-trict and a mobile clinic that treatedover 20,000 people in Amuria andKatakwi districts of ailments likemalaria, diarrhoea, chicken pox andrespiratory diseases with malaria casesbeing the highest.

The water treatment plant and mobileclinic equipment were offered byKenya Red Cross Society (KRCS).KRCS also sent in technical staff andM6 trucks to help in the operation.During the emergency phase, URCSalso undertook a food security pro-gramme and distributed 20,000 seedkits to 20,000 households in the flood-affected communities to preventfamine.It should also not be forgotten thatURCS also engaged in the improve-ment of water and sanitation facilitiesby providing water purification sachetsand tablets and training 45 volunteerswho were dispatched to the field tocarry on health promotion messages.

From page 14

A volunteer roofs a model house at the Soroti branch. Thestructure is an example of the houses to be constructed forflood victims under the Society’s recovery shelter programme.

Seed kits await distribution in Acowa Sub

County, Amuria District.


Refugee influx

Kenya refugees get home in UgandaBy Catherine Ntabadde

What should have resulted into decid-ing the future leader of Kenya turnedinto election violence then tribal clash-es, displacing over 12,000 Kenyans intoUganda. These have since beendeclared refugees.

Day by day, they would cross eitherthrough Malaba, Busia, Manafwa,Kapchorwa or Bukwo seeking refuge intheir neighbouring country Uganda.The Kikuyus, Luos and Klegins decid-ed to fight each other, one tribe accus-ing the other of vote rigging. FromDecember 27, 2007 todate (April2008), the Kenyan refugees had to learnto survive as refugees even when mostof them where well off in their owncountry. The displacement followedthe declaration of President MwaiKibaki as the new President of Kenya.The results were disputed by OrangeDemocratic Movement oppositionleader Raila Odinga.

The suffering of the Kenyan refugeesin Uganda was however lessened whenhumanitarian organisations like UgandaRed Cross Society intervened to sup-port them and manage the centres thatwere initially at Malaba and Busia.URCS was the first organisation tointervene and manage the refugeereception centres which were initiallyschools; St. Jude Primary SchoolMalaba and Busia Integrated PrimarySchool. URCSdistrib-uted

over 30, 000 non food items torefugees who where transferred toMulanda Transit camp. The camp is stillunder the management of URCS withUNHCR carrying out the overall coor-dination. The NFIs distributed includemosquito nets, cooking pots, jerrycans,blankets, soap, tarpaulins, cups, plates.

Since the camps were initially stationedat schools, the refugees from Busia andMalaba together with refugees fromBukwo, Kapchorwa and Manafwa hadto be re-located to Mulanda in Tororo aformer technical institute. However notall the refugees were willing to be re-located. Some preferred to stay nearerto the border so as to easily monitorthe situation across the border whileothers decided to stay with relatives orrent houses.

Relief distributionURCS distributed more NFIs to therefugees at Mulanda including thosefrom Manafwa, Bukwo and Kapchorwawho had not initially received.

As you arrive at Mulanda, you can easi-ly notice that it is a refugee transitcamp. The over 400 UNHCR creamtents say it all. Other players in theoperations included UN-OCHA, WFP,UNICEF, Save the Children, Office ofPrime Minister, Tororo District LocalGovernment, community mem-bers, Police (for security), ICRC,

IFRC , MSF, SalvationAmry, World

Vision,

Christian Children's Fund, Rotary Club,Plan Uganda, The AIDS SupportOrganisation (TASO) among others.

URCS constructed twenty pit latrines offour stances each and 15 bath shelters.Red Cross also provide tracing servic-es, carried out sensitisation on hygieneand community sensitisation so that thecommunities accept the Kenyanrefugees. The refugees had access tosafe and clean water, thanks toUNICEF. Each family had a charcoalstove and charcoal which enabled themprepare meals provided by the PrimeMinister's Office and WFP. The char-coal stoves and charcoal were providedby GOAL, Salvation Army.

The number of children at the campwas over 300. These had their educa-tion affected since they couldn't returnto Kenya to continue with their studies.Good enough, Save the Childrenembarked on the school project withinthe camp to take care of the children.During midday every day, it was time toplay for the children. A number ofgames were introduced to keep thechildren lively.

The situation in Kenya has normalisedwith the power sharing betweenPresident Mwai Kibaki and PrimeMinister Raila Odinga but the refugeesat Mulanda seem to have found a new

home in Uganda. As of March31, 2008, Mulanda had 1,

907 refugees.

refugees receiving mattresses

Refugees receive mattresses at Mulanda

Transit Camp in Tororo.Uganda Red Cross Society volunteers carry maizegrain from the store for distribution.


Oyam District water coverage improved

Meet Anorld the smart driverMr Arnold Muhanguzi,34, talked to CharlesNsamba(CommunicationDepartment) about hisbackground, job andfuture plans. The soft-spoken driver stands outamong fellow driversbecause of his smart-ness.

Mr Muhanguzi is a sen-ior driver attached to theUganda Red CrossSecretary General'soffice. He was born on15th March, 1974. MrMuhanguzi is not mar-ried and does not havechildren, but he takescare of his young sister."

Mr Anorld Muhanguzi on the wheels.Mr Muhanguzi, who is also head of drivers, has been working withURCS for four years. Born to Mr. Francis Rwikisheboona and Ms.Monday Joselyn, the tall light-skinned gentleman hails fromNgarama Sub County, Bukanga County in Isingiro district.

He was brought up by his grandfather, Mr. Ssajabi Erias, inMbarara district. Mr Muhanguzi attended Ngarama P/S, where he

sat his PrimaryLeavingExaminations in1988 before joiningNgarama SS for myO’ Level education,which he completedin 1992. Between1994 and 1997, MrMuhanguzi joinedmechanics practicewith a companycalled Global OutCare Limited.While practicingmechanics, hejoined a drivingschool, and conse-quently joinedanother companycalled Master Tonesand Trends wherehe worked as a driv-

Turn to page 18

to drink and collect water.The Vice Chairman of Uganda RedCross Society, Mr Robert Ssebunya,said before the insurgency in north-ern Uganda, Lango region was sec-ond to Buganda in the productionof food for the country.

"I'm happy to meet you peoplefrom the various IDP hideouts andwelcome you back home to start anew life of developing yourselvesand your district after 20 years ofsuffering because of the LRA warin the north," Mr Ssebunya said.

He said URCS has now joined therecovery programme especially theintervention in water and sanitation,

food security with the assistance ofthe German government throughGerman Red Cross. He said underthe programme, community leaderswill be trained to manage the watersources in order to benefit theirareas for a longer time where over50,000 people are targeted.

Mr Ssebunya tasked the communi-ties to ensure that the water sourcesare properly maintained.URCS has trained 46 Watsan volun-teers to carry out hygiene promo-tion in the targeted subcounties.The National Society hasalso formed water user committeesto help in the maintenance of theprotected water sources.

URCS Deputy Secretary GeneralMichael Richard Nataka said as aNational Society mandated toextend services throughout thecountry, URCS in partnership withother organizations will this yearfocus on water and sanitation, foodsecurity, HIV/AIDS programmes,gender based sexual violence, reha-bilitation of former child soldiers,offering of psychosocial support tocommunities as they resettle andstrengthening of the Society's struc-tures.

Meanwhile, Oyam district has grant-ed URCS a plot of land for the con-struction of a sub-branch office inorder to take services nearer to thepeople.

From page 3

er for two years before joining URCS as the Secretary General's driver.

Mr Muhanguzi enjoys working with his boss. "She is a very organized boss who makes my work simple by making aschedule for the day. It is very rare for her to call me for emergencies.”

Mr Muhanguzi says he has been a smart man since his early school days. I became a prefect in my P.5 and so Ihad to look neat. Since then, I have not looked back. I also have to ensure that the vehicle I am driving is washedat least everyday.

Mr Muhanguzi intends to stay with Red Cross until he clocks the retirement age because “it is a unique organiza-tion". He says that he wants to upgrade his academic qualifications, preferably a management course. I hope to startup a transport company when I retire because I have acquired enough experience to enable me manage such a busi-ness.

"Arnold is a very responsible driver, quite disciplined and presents himself really well," said the Secretary General.

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