In Uganda, an International Disaster Response Law (IDRL) report was published in 2011, providing an analysis of Uganda’s legal and policy frameworks for addressing common issues related to receiving international disaster assistance. The report recommended that a comprehensive law on disaster risk management and health emergencies should be enacted to solidify Uganda’s institutional framework for disaster management and that it should include key elements of international disaster response law.
Since the IDRL report, Uganda Red Cross Society has engaged with the Office of the Prime Minister in discussing the development of the Disaster Risk Management Bill (DRM Bill). In 2019, Uganda Red Cross Society supported the Office of the Prime Minister in the co-facilitation of a workshop with parliamentarians and district officials. The workshop gathered contributions from participants to inform the content of the DRM Bill.
In 2021 and 2022, the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) continued to engage with parliamentarians to advocate for the need for the national DRM Bill. As a recognised partner in this national process, URCS engaged with the Office of the Prime Minister and other relevant stakeholders in developing the roadmap for the development of the Bill. These engagements have been part of the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP), which brings together stakeholders across the climate, humanitarian and development communities with the aim of making 1 billion people safer from disaster by 2025. REAP Target 1 focuses on the necessity to better connect the complementary goals of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, with its goal being for 50 countries to have reviewed and integrated their disaster risk management and climate adaptation laws, policies, national frameworks for climate services and/or plans to ensure that they reduce climate change impacts and exposure on people and the environment.
Uganda Red Cross Society also championed efforts to advocate for a review of its constitutive act. As a result, the Uganda Red Cross Society and Emblem Use & Protection Bill, 2018 was developed. Uganda Red Cross Society organised a workshop with parliamentarians to inform them on the need for the revision and to champion its expedient approval in parliament to support the ongoing work of Uganda Red Cross. The Ugandan Parliament passed the Uganda Red Cross Society Bill on 11 March 2021, to legally formalize the auxiliary role of Uganda Red Cross with the Government of Uganda and other public authorities. The Bill is currently awaiting presidential assent.
The new Act 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.
As part of a global study on child protection and disaster law, IFRC Disaster Law supported Uganda Red Cross Society to develop a case study that provided an assessment of national legal frameworks regarding child protection during disasters. The case study entitled Effective Law and Policy for Addressing Child Protection in Disaster Risk Management documented the advocacy gaps and opportunities for effective participation of children and/or their guardians and care-givers during policy formulation, including current discussions on the Climate Change Bill, revision of the Red Cross Act, Wetlands Bill, and the Disaster Risk Management Bill.
In 2023, the Disaster Law team continued to provide technical support to the Uganda Red Cross Society URCS through the development of an Advocacy Strategy and Advocacy Training Manual.
In continuing our support in strengthening disaster-related legal frameworks in the country, in 2023 the Disaster Law team provided support to the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) in the development and review of its Auxiliary Role mapping.
On the third session of a webinar series on the Auxiliary Role hosted by IFRC Disaster Law, the Uganda Red Cross shared how laws and policies contribute to strengthen their auxiliary role. The URCS has been continuously engaging with its public authorities to advocate for a seat at the table. Furthermore, URCS is present in DRM committees at all levels and is a member of the Comprehensive Refugee Response
