Elderly in Kitagwenda Relieved as SAGE Payments Arrive
Over 3,000 elderly individuals, aged 80 and above, are registered beneficiaries in the district, receiving a quarterly sum of Shs75,000, equating to Shs25,000 per month.
By Ivan Mugisha
Elderly residents in Kitagwenda district have expressed relief after receiving their long-awaited payments under the government's Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) programme.
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Over 3,000 elderly individuals, aged 80 and above, are registered beneficiaries in the district, receiving a quarterly sum of Shs75,000, equating to Shs25,000 per month.
This year marks the fifth anniversary since Kitagwenda elders began benefiting from the program, which was launched in 2010 to support vulnerable senior citizens.
At the disbursement exercise held at Kabujogera Town Council, Nicholas Rugumayo, chairperson of the District Elderly Persons’ Council, commended the government for its ongoing support.
He noted that the program has significantly improved the living conditions of the elderly, many of whom had struggled to afford basic necessities before its introduction.
“If you remember the time before the government thought about us, we were very poor, unable to provide even basic needs like salt, soap, and jelly," Rugumayo said.
"Now, at least everyone can eat well and meet their basic needs."
Rugumayo encouraged the elderly to invest the funds in small income-generating projects such as poultry or piggery to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
Moses Bashaija, acting district community development officer and focal person for the SAGE programme, assured those who were not yet registered that efforts are underway to capture their details.
He urged patience, emphasizing that new beneficiaries would be enrolled soon.
Some beneficiaries, like 84-year-old Keziloni Atwooki, expressed their gratitude, saying the funds would help meet immediate household needs.
"This money has come just in time; I will be able to buy soap and other essentials for my family," he said.
Restetuta Komujuni, 79, plans to use her grant to hire workers to clear her overgrown compound, which has become bushy due to the rains.
The SAGE programme is a key component of Uganda’s broader social protection strategy, aimed at alleviating chronic poverty and enhancing access to essential services such as healthcare and education for the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
