Govt steps up measures to strengthen support for older persons

What the report says

Government in Uganda is moving to broaden support for older persons through expanded cash transfers, a proposed health insurance arrangement and new measures aimed at preventing abuse, according to Nile Post. The plans are being framed ahead of the International Day of Older Persons, which will be marked through a virtual event at State House Entebbe under the theme “Aging with Dignity: Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons.”

A central part of the policy push is the planned expansion of the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment, or SAGE, programme. The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development says Cabinet has approved lowering the eligibility age from 80 to 65 and increasing the monthly payment from Shs25,000 to Shs35,000, though implementation still depends on additional funding. The government estimates the expanded programme would require about Shs252 billion.

State Minister for Older Persons Jacqueline Mbabazi said the ministry will keep pressing for financing and is also advancing a health insurance proposal for older people. The report says government is working with the health sector to improve access to treatment for common age-related conditions, including by helping stock lower-level health facilities with medicines for hypertension and diabetes.

The ministry is also developing an Elder Abuse Reduction Programme to improve reporting and response to neglect, violence and other rights violations. In addition, officials want older persons to take part more actively in income-generating work, including through a 10% Parish Development Model allocation set aside for enterprises involving older people. The article says these measures respond to a population of more than 2.3 million Ugandans aged 60 and above, many of whom lack formal social security and health insurance.