Government has approved sweeping reforms to widen access to social protection for older persons, including lowering the eligibility age for the Senior Citizens Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) from 80 to 65 years starting in the 2026/27 financial year.
Announcing the decision at the Uganda Media Centre, Minister of State for Elderly Affairs Dominic Mafwabi Gidudu said government aims to “enhance, increase access and ensure sustainability” of programmes supporting Uganda’s ageing population.
“The Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment provides senior citizens a predictable monthly cash transfer to support them access basic needs and live dignified lives,” he said.
To implement the expanded eligibility, government will add Sh252.16 billion to the current SAGE budget, raising total annual funding to Sh373.36 billion. Gidudu said this amount is required “to reach the 1,048,598 beneficiaries aged 65 years and above.”
He also confirmed that government will clear Sh20.6 billion in accumulated SAGE arrears and provide Sh5 billion to cover unfunded groups under the Special Enterprise Grant for Older Persons (SEGOP) during the 2025/26 financial year. SEGOP currently supports older persons aged 60–79 with enterprise grants and training, benefiting 13,449 Ugandans across 181 districts.
Gidudu noted that SAGE’s expansion follows years of documented impact since its 2010 pilot.
“We have seen the lives of older persons changing for the better, with improved nutrition, health access, savings and productivity,” he said.
The minister also pointed to ongoing efforts to support elderly refugees through a SAGE-model cash transfer programme in Koboko and Yumbe, which is being expanded to Madi-Okollo and Terego to reach 700 beneficiaries.
Gidudu urged older persons to register for national IDs, stressing that “without a national ID, access to social development programmes including SAGE and SEGOP will become a challenge,” since payments require bank accounts linked to National Identification Numbers.
He added that older persons have been integrated into the Parish Development Model, with 10% of funds ring-fenced for them and 3% of all PDM beneficiaries currently being senior citizens.
While committing to extend social security to informal sector workers, Gidudu also appealed to elderly Ugandans to safeguard family stability.
“Safety is key to maintaining dignity in communities. Economic empowerment must go alongside a peaceful and secure environment,” he said.