Africa-Press – Uganda. Yumbe District has hosted the Minister of State for Elderly Affairs, Dominic Gidudu Mafwabi, on a monitoring visit of social protection programmes, which also marked the launch of the Social Cash Transfers for Elderly Refugees (SCTER).
The initiative, piloted in Lobule (Koboko) and Bidibidi (Yumbe) settlements, is jointly implemented by the Office of the Prime Minister, UNHCR, the Ministry of Gender, and host districts, with support from the Government of Ireland and the UN World Food Programme. So far, over 500 elderly refugees are receiving a monthly stipend of shs 25,000 under the scheme.
During the visit, Yumbe District Chairperson Abdul Mutalib Asiku raised concerns over gaps in the implementation of social protection programmes. He noted that under the Senior Citizens Grant (SAGE), the high eligibility age and low value of the grant remain critical challenges, while stringent conditions under the GROW project targeting women had excluded many potential beneficiaries. He further appealed to government to increase Yumbe’s allocation, citing the strain of hosting over 200,000 refugees and asylum seekers.
Responding to the issues, Ministry of Gender Permanent Secretary David Aggrey Kibenge said Parliament had already approved the reduction of the SAGE eligibility age and an increase in the grant value, but implementation awaits the availability of funds. On the GROW project, he revealed that the Ministry is engaging the World Bank to reduce the required capital threshold from shs 4 million to shs 2 million for women in refugee-hosting districts.
Minister Gidudu commended the NRM government for designing inclusive programmes that improve livelihoods at the grassroots. “The essence of government is to continuously give hope to the populace. Inclusiveness in programmes makes people feel considered, and that is why I urge the people of Yumbe to continue supporting the NRM,” he said.
The delegation also witnessed the disbursement of SAGE payments in Apo Subcounty, where beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the grant, saying it has enabled them to meet basic needs. Nationwide, over 306,000 older persons are currently benefiting from the SAGE programme.
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