By Martha John Savio – Kitgum Uganda
The Chairperson of the elder person’s council in the Ugandan district of Kitgum Mr. Ayella Jimmy George demanded that the age ceiling for beneficiary of Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) program should be reduced from 80 to 65years.
Mr. Ayella was speaking on Thursday 1st December 2022, during the stakeholders’ orientation meeting for technical and political leaders in Kitgum district held at the district council hall.
He argued that, many elders are being left out on the program on age factor, yet they are too old to fend for themselves.
Mr. Okello James P’Okidi, the Kitgum district’s community development officer noted that many elders die between the age of 65 and 70 years, old before they can enroll for SAGE.
He added that by lowering the age ceiling, more elders’ livelihood can improve, thus prolonging their life span.
Mr. Jimmy Ebil Segawa, the Kitgum district resident commissioner lauded the government for supporting older persons through the SAGE program adding that many are now able to afford decent means as well as pay their grandchildren’s school fees.
He asked the chairperson elder person’s council to coordinate with the office of the district chairperson and that of the resident district commissioner in mobilizing locals to embrace the program as well as in advocating for age reduction.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Akello Alice, an elder from Acutomer Pandowng Division who is living with 7 grandchildren said, the age ceiling will help a lot but advised that guidelines should also be implemented to the receivers, “since some of the elderly, are very tired and when they send next of kin there are tendencies where less or no money is brought to the elderly yet it is the same money that sustain such a receiver depending on one’s back ground”.