By Jamillah Kemigisa
The Government of Uganda has unveiled sweeping reforms to the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) programme, including a substantial reduction in the eligibility age and an increase in monthly payments to elderly citizens.
Addressing the press in Kampala, Minister of State for Older Persons Hon. Mafabi Gidudu announced that beginning in the 2026/2027 financial year, Ugandans aged 65 and above will qualify for the grant—down from the current threshold of 85 years.
At the same time, government has raised the monthly stipend from Shs25,000 to Shs35,000, meaning beneficiaries will now receive Shs105,000 per quarter, up from Shs75,000.
Hon. Mafabi said the reforms are designed to reduce the economic strain on older persons and ensure they live dignified, stable lives.
“The government cares deeply about older persons. We urge them to use this money wisely so they can live better lives,” he said.
To support the expanded beneficiary pool, the SAGE budget has been increased from Shs121 billion to an additional Shs252 billion.
The minister also provided an update on the Senior Citizens Grant Operations (SEGO) programme, which supports Ugandans aged 60–65. He noted that Shs5 billion has already been paid out, and government will clear the remaining arrears to reach a total of Shs20 billion within the 2025/2026 financial year.
“All outstanding SEGO debts will be cleared this financial year,” he emphasized.
Hon. Mafabi explained that rising inflation had eroded the purchasing power of the original Shs25,000 allowance, prompting the government to adjust the grant to reflect current economic realities.
“The items this money could buy when SAGE began cannot be bought today at the same price,” he said.
He further encouraged older persons without National IDs to register for a National Identification Number (NIN), a mandatory requirement for enrolment. He also appealed for peace and stability, noting that social protection programmes flourish best in secure environments.
The minister expressed personal satisfaction with the reforms, calling them a milestone for Uganda’s senior citizens.
“As a minister, I feel so happy to have achieved this milestone for my fellow elders,” he said.
Launched in 2010 under the Expanding Social Protection (ESP) initiative, SAGE was established to support vulnerable older persons with quarterly cash transfers, initially targeting those aged 85 and above with an exception for Karamoja, where the age was set at 60 due to lower life expectancy.
The newly announced changes lowering the age to 65 and raising the stipend mark the most significant expansion of the programme since its inception.
