In order to build the resilience of older persons during Covid-19 period, the government has promised to continue with the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment(SAGE) programme that provides a financial incentive to the elderly.
The remarks were made as Uganda joined the rest of the world in commemorating the Elder Abuse Awareness Day,
The United Nations World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, is observed every year on June 15 following a UN resolution that acknowledged the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue.
The representative of the Elderly for Western region to Parliament, Joram Tibasiimwa, raised the need for an increment in the amount of money given to the elderly as aid.
Speaking to the media in Kampala, Tibasiimwa echoed out the need to revise the appropriate age at which one is entitled to this money because very few people make it to the age of 80.
“To benefit from the grants, one must be 80 years and above and registered with NIRA and in possession of a valid national ID.We are currently having a challenge with eligible beneficiaries who missed out on the NIRA registration or have incorrect personal details on their NIRA cards,”he said.
Further still, to support the frail and infirm beneficiaries, he said that government has initiated home enrolment and payment for beneficiaries who cannot move to the enrolment sites.
He called upon stakeholders to continuously uphold the rights of older persons.
