The Minister of State for the Elderly Hon Dominic Gidudu Mafwabi has revealed that the age for Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE), will be lowered from 80 years to 65 years effective next financial year 2026/27.
Minister Gidudu revealed this today, while addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala where he also said that arrears amounting to Ugx 20.6 billion is to be paid this Financial Year.
He also disclosed that a Special Enterprise Grant for Older Persons funding gap of Ugx 5 billion is to be paid this Financial Year, covering older persons between 60 and 79 years to fund more groups that completed the verification process.
The Minister said that lowering the age will increase number of Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment beneficiaries from the current 306,759 to over 1,048,598 older persons it will also increase the SAGE budget from the current Ugx 121.2 billion to Ugx 373.36 billion next Financial Year.
Special Enterprise Grant for Older Person will continue to cover older persons aged 60 to 65 years and the National Identification Number remains a key requirement and Older persons are encouraged to register with NIRA.
