ICRC continues to promote humanitarian norms effectively.

The International Committee Red Cross (ICRC) has continued to engage closely with the Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) to promote the incorporation on international Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) into their trainings.

Speaking to the media in Kampala, Christoph Sutter, Head of ICRC Regional delegation to Uganda Rwanda and Burundi says in an effort to promote the teaching of international humanitarian law they also engaged with a number of academic institutions such as Uganda Christian University (UCU), Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) and Cavendish University among others through organising moot competition, guest lectures as well as provision of IHL material.

ICRC is a humanitarian organisation that focuses on protecting the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence.

Our goal is to firmly stand up for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence to effectively protect and assist conflict and violence affected people, said Christoph. He adds that they strive to respect of international humanitarian law expressing commitment to continue effective and sustainable humanitarian action in the region.

Speaking at the same event, Fillipa Neto ICRC Regional Protection Coordinator mentioned that they made visits to 14 detention centres in Uganda with 6,641 detainees benefiting from their assistance in 2023 adding that those were arrested on suspicion of belonging to an armed group.

“We monitored the condition and treatment of these individuals since their arrest and throughout their period. But we also made sure that they are in contact with their families because this is important to us” she said.

The ICRC has also worked closely with the Uganda Red Cross Society(URCS) in providing protection of family links services to people separated from their loved ones due to conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

46 demobilized children were registered in the past year, 3 were re united with their respective families while 21are still going through the process.