MPs oppose raising age for beneficiaries of SAGE funds to 80 years

Members of Parliament (MP) are opposed to the new government proposal of increasing the age limit of the elderly people who are supposed to benefit from the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) Program.

The fire spitting legislators argued that increasing the age of beneficiaries from 65 to 80 years is likely to leave majority of the elderly people between 65 and 79 years with no help

The matter that generated a serious debate was raised by Dokolo Woman Member of Parliament Cecilia Ogwal in a Thursday parliamentary sitting chaired by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga.

Ogwal flanked by other legislators argue that increasing the age limit of the SAFE beneficiaries from 65 to 80 is likely to leave out the majority of the elderly people who are in dire need and are between65 and 79 years.

The State minister for Planning David Bahati who confirmed the lifting of the age limit for the SAGE beneficiaries argue the lack of inadequate resources to cater for all the elderly people is the reason behind the new move.

According to the Minister the new program that is to be enrolled to the whole country is to see that all elderly people above 80 years receive their monthly payoff 25,000 shillings.