Kabarole elderly persons ask govt to enrol them on SAGE

Elderly persons in Kabarole District have asked government to enrol them under the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) programme.
They made the remarks during a meeting of elderly persons who receive support from Christ Aid International, a nongovernmental organisation, last week.
Under the Christ Aid International programme initiative, the elderly people in Kabarole District receive Shs54,000 monthly.
Ms Annet Nyinamwiru, 78, a resident of Karangura Sub-county, said there is need for government to support them with monthly grants because they lack money to meet basic needs.
“When you see me at my age, I’m now helpless. I beg from people for money to buy basic items such as soap. Government should put us under consideration,” Ms Nyinamwiru said last week.
Mr James Nyakonjo, 82, a resident of Karambi Sub-county remarked that after the death of his children, he can no longer afford to meet his financial needs including paying for his medical bills.
Mr Nyakonjo said he depends on well-wishers for survival.
“We are told that elder persons in some districts get monthly support from the government. Why are we not being considered?” he asked.
Some of the elderly persons also asked government to increase the monthly fees from Shs25,000 to at least Shs100,000.

Background
In 2010 government started the SAGE programme that supports older persons above the age of 65 with monthly grants of Shs25,000.
The programme is currently being implemented in 47 districts countrywide.
However, in Rwenzori Sub-region the programme is only implemented in Kasese, Kyegegwa and Kyenjojo districts.

Statistics
According to the 2016/17 Uganda Bureau of Statistics household survey released last year, poverty rates countrywide increased from 19.7 per cent in 2013 to 21.4 per cent in 2016.
However, in the SAGE benefiting districts poverty levels dropped from 31.1 per cent to 30.8 per cent.
According to the Social Development Sector review report, the SAGE programme has since its inception benefited 178,984 out of the targeted 194,808 older persons by end of the last financial year.
The Kabarole Community Development Officer, Mr Chris Monday, urged the elderly persons to remain calm, saying government’s plan is to roll out the programme countrywide.
For the last two years, Christ Aid International, a non-governmental organisation operating in Kabarole District, has been giving financial support to elderly persons above 60 years.

Supported
The Country Director of Christ Aid International, Ms Grace Birungi, last week said majority of the older person in the district are helpless need financial support.
“We have built 24 permanent houses for the grandmothers, paid Shs54,000 monthly to 98 grandmothers and their medical bills” Ms Birungi revealed.
Ms Julian Kyenda, 75, a resident of Kicuna Village in Busoro Sub-county, said before the intervention of the Christ Aid International she was unable to afford medical bills and some basic needs.
“Every month they give me Shs54,000 for upkeep and they built for me a permanent house but my worry is what if the NGO pulls out,” Ms Kyenda said.