Uganda Red Cross Society workers have raised alarm over alleged corruption and misconduct among the organization’s top leadership, leading to calls for government intervention to address the fraudulent activities that have come to light.
Funds Misappropriation and Electoral Manipulation
Workers at the Uganda Red Cross have accused their superiors of misappropriating funds intended for disaster-prone districts and refugee communities. A whistleblower has brought to light various instances of malpractice, including the manipulation of electoral processes to ensure the retention or appointment of board-friendly staff both at the branch and national levels.
“The Uganda Red Cross underwent the electoral process to vote in office bearers but the process was manipulated through bribery, ring-fencing of certain positions like the Treasurer and Board Chair,” reveals the whistleblower.
The report indicates that bribery and ring-fencing of key positions like Treasurer and Board Chair have been prevalent, hindering a fair and transparent election process within the organization.
“For instance, the Treasurer and Legal Counsel Positions are always unopposed for the last 3 terms of office. The Treasurer also doubles as a member of the Election Commission and comes from the same village as the Secretary General of the Institution. IGG should intervene and stop the electoral process for the national council supposed to take place on February 25, 2025,” the whistle-blower added.
Allegations of Abuse of Power and Financial Impropriety
Further allegations have surfaced regarding the abuse of power by top officials within the Uganda Red Cross. Reports suggest instances of soliciting bribes from potential candidates during the recruitment process, as well as arbitrary hiring and firing practices controlled by the Chief Executive Officer.
“The Director Branch and Membership development was fired due to simple disagreement with the Secretary-General and the CEO gave fatty allowances to the Board Member who endorsed his wish to fire the Director,” the Whistleblower adds.
Additionally, funds from donor organizations, earmarked for crucial projects such as water infrastructure development and disaster relief efforts, were allegedly pocketed without the completion of the intended initiatives.
“Funds from donor organizations such as the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) meant to install 10 tanks of 10000 litres, rehabilitation of 17 water points on Bunagana-Kisoro road, Construction of sanitary facilities at Bunagana Primary school, Market, Boarder points and procuring relief items for the resilience of Districts that are affected by disasters and refugee influx were pocketed since all the projects were not done and that yet the funds were given to Uganda Red Cross,” added the whistleblower.
The Society has also been accused of presenting the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with Ghost Volunteers and exaggerated reports of relief items procured.
The whistleblower also says that the society also exaggerated costs for the procurement of 20 Ambulances from the Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Health for road safety and COVID-19 response and instead brought for the secretary general a New Land Cruiser.
Calls for Immediate Government Investigation
The concerned staff members are urging the government to launch a thorough investigation to hold accountable those responsible for the alleged misconduct. They demand that the Inspector General of Government (IGG) and the Auditor General (AG) scrutinize the organization’s financial records and ensure transparency in its operations.
This recent scandal has cast a shadow over the Uganda Red Cross Society, an organization established under the Parliamentary Act of 1964 to provide critical humanitarian assistance to communities in need.
Past instances of corruption within the organization led to prosecutions and convictions.
In 2013 the Organisation went through a refurbishment where the secretary general, his team and the governing board were fired. They were later prosecuted for the abuse of office and corruption by the anti-corruption court and they were found guilty.
