The Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development in charge of Elderly Affairs, Jacqueline Mbabazi, has pledged increased government support for older persons, calling on local leaders to translate the promise into district budgets and development programmes.
Speaking on 8th October, 2026, during a meeting with representatives of older persons at Rukungiri District Council Hall, Mbabazi urged officials to prioritize the welfare of elderly citizens. She noted that Uganda’s 2024 census recorded about 2.3 million older persons, with projections expecting the figure to rise to approximately 2.6 million by June this year. The Minister said many elderly people are struggling to support large households despite limited resources, making targeted assistance urgent.
Mbabazi also revealed that government is working to expand the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE). She stated that Cabinet, in September 2025, agreed to reduce the eligibility age from 80 to 65 years and increase the monthly grant to Shs35,000. However, she explained that the changes could not be absorbed in the current budget due to an additional Shs252.16 billion required. Mbabazi added that the ministry is now engaging the Ministry of Finance to ensure the funding is included in the 2027/28 financial year budget.
On healthcare, the Minister said government is considering introducing medical insurance for older persons. She added that part of the SAGE grant may be used to help cover insurance premiums once the monthly grant is increased.
During the meeting, Anna Muhindo, Chairperson of the National Council for Older Persons, urged district leaders to consistently incorporate elderly needs into budgeting. She called on older persons’ councils to collaborate with Community Development Officers to identify elderly persons in their communities for better planning and stronger lobbying for government support.
Rukungiri District Councillor for Older Persons, George Ruraka Byaruhanga, further demanded strengthened medical insurance, improved services at Health Centre IIIs, prioritization of elderly patients, and government-subsidised homes to improve the livelihoods and quality of life for older people.
