The Senior Citizens Grant under the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) was piloted in the country in 2010, The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, through the Expanding Social Protection (ESP) Programme delivers the Grant to older persons across the country.
The Programme has received a boost from Government in partnership with Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and Irish Aid, through provision of 135 motorcycles that have been distributed to 135 districts across the country. The motorcycles will support coordination and monitoring activities of the Programme at the grassroots.
While officiating at the handover ceremony at Kololo ceremonial grounds, Hon. Sarah Kanyike, the State Minister for Disability and Elderly, appreciated Development Partners for the technical and financial support towards the implementation of SAGE Programme.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Mr. Aggrey David Kibenge, applauded the contribution by the district leadership towards the implementation of the Programme. He said through the Senior Community Development Officers at the district, the Programme had registered tremendous strides in the lives of beneficiaries.
The motorcycles were handed over to the Chief Administrative Officers, who oversee the implementation of the Programme at the district level. The Handover ceremony took place at Kololo Independence Grounds on 8th December, 2020.
The Senior Community Development Officer (SCDO) is the SAGE Focal Person at the district. Working together with the Regional Technical Support Units of the Programme, The SCDOs are continually in touch with the Sub-county and Parish Chiefs, mainly to do mobilization work for the Programme. The provision of the motorcycles will support the SAGE Focal Persons to carry out Programme activities without a glitch.
The programme provides monthly grants of UGX 25,000 to older persons who are 80 years and above in 135 districts. Beneficiaries in 15 pilot districts who were enrolled into the programme at the targeting age of 60 years and 65 years and above for Karamoja region were maintained in the programme. With the SAGE Grant, beneficiaries are able to meet their basic needs, access basic services, form saving groups and to start income generating activities like rearing of animals and tree planting.
