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Uganda Red Cross helps Kampala riot victims
24 Nov 2005 07:23:00 GMT
Source: NGO latest
Lydia Mirembe, Information Officer
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Uganda Red Cross Society - Uganda
Website: http://www.redcrossug.org
Uganda Red Cross volunteers were on November 14th thrust into action, when violent rioters took over Kampala, the capital city. It all began when opposition candidate, Colonel Doctor Kiiza Besigye, was arrested in Busega, a suburb in the West of Kampala. Dr Besigye is the president of the Forum For Democratic Change (FDC) party.
Upon his arrest, supporters of Dr Besigye all over Kampala headed for the Central Police Station where he was being held demanding his immediate release. In response, anti-riot police unit sought to disperse the crowd by firing tear gas, rubber bullets and water canons at them. In no time, the chaos had spread to all parts of the cities, characterized by looting, setting cars ablaze, destroying property and of course various injuries and casualties.
It was this state of affairs that prompted URCS action team to offer first aid and ambulance services to save the lives of those who had been caught up in the heat of the riots. While all cars were heading out of the city and people running in all directions for dear life, the URCS ambulance was ferrying the injured to Mulago hospital. The Branch Field Coordinator of Kampala Central, Juliet Kiyimba reported that here were 48 casualties in all. Most of them had fallen and sustained wounds and cuts as they ran away from oncoming police. Others had been injured by rubber bullets, while some had fainted after inhaling the tear gas.
Apart from the first aid, URCS action team also provided tracing services for two parents who had lost contact with their school going children. They were all reunited successfully.
Since that Monday, URCS Action Team volunteers have been on standby in their respective branches, as a repeat of the November 14th scenes cannot be ruled out. On Tuesday November 15th, Dr. Besigye was brought to court in Kampala and charged. The tension in Kampala city was almost tangible, as the streets were lined with military police, anti riot police and mambas patrolled endlessly. Any small indicator of a riot in any part of the city was tackled and quelled in a matter of minutes. Many civilians kept out of the city and shops on the high street remained closed.
Dr Besigye will next appear in court on Thursday 24th November. “We cannot rule out the possibility of violence, so we are not taking anything for granted,” explained Disaster Management program coordinator, Charles Avuasea in a planning meeting with the four Kampala Branch Field Coordinators. URCS volunteers will remain on standby to help any victims of such violent riots.
Among the response activities, URCS volunteers will; provide first aid and ambulance services, refer serious cases to health units and provide emergency tracing services. As an organization, URCS will be working with other stakeholders like police and other humanitarian agencies to ensure that people rendered vulnerable by such uprisings, are given all necessary assistance. Mr Avuasea stressed to all Red Cross Action Team volunteers that all response should be conducted according to the URCS Disaster Management security guidelines and code of conduct.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
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