The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde, has critically questioned the accessibility of current financial systems for regular citizens.
Gen Tumukunde made the remarks October 30th while speaking at the 4th National Social Protection Dialogue which was held Serena Hotel in Kampala where he represented the Prime Minister Rt Hon Robinah Nabbanja.
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Gen Tumukunde core message focused on financial inclusion and the lack of lending options available for micro-entrepreneurs and explicitly questioned the banking sector, asking why there is no financial institution worth to lend to an ordinary person who is trying to grow the small income-generating activities she has put together.
Minister Tumukunde emphasized that with proper financial support and credit access, ordinary citizens could significantly expand their ventures, grow their individual incomes and naturally improve their overall livelihoods.
His remarks aligned with the 4th National Social Protection Dialogue’s 2026 theme: “From Vulnerability to Resilience: The Contribution of Social Protection Towards Attainment of the 10-Fold Growth Strategy.
The 4th National Social Protection Dialogue 2026 was organized alongside stakeholders including the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER), RAISE, UNICEF, and the World Food Programme.
The Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER) is an independent, non-profit human rights organization founded and registered in Uganda in 2012 and advocates for equitable, quality public education and stronger regulation of private education providers.
It also promotes access to physical and mental healthcare as a fundamental human right and works to hold corporations accountable for social, economic and cultural rights impacts, and contributes to national action plans and campaigns for inclusive social security frameworks, pensions and safety nets for vulnerable populations like older persons including advocacy around the SAGE program.
The event has brought together government officials, policy experts, and members of the Social Protection Working Group with discussions centering on expanding safety nets for the elderly, disabled, and the informal sector which accounts for nearly 85% of Uganda’s workforce.
A major emphasis is being placed on building a robust National Social Registry to track household data and streamlining direct income support systems.
While speaking at the same event, the Minister of State for Elderly Affairs Hon Jackline Mbabazi, outlined the transformative benefits of supporting older women and men through Uganda’s expanding social protection programmes, saying the Government is committed to ensuring every older person lives with dignity, independence and hope.
She stressed that for many older Ugandans, growing old once meant facing uncertainty, poverty and dependence and years of hard work often ended with limited opportunities to earn an income, leaving many elderly women and men vulnerable to hunger, illness and social exclusion.
According to Minister Mbabazi, Uganda is steadily changing that narrative through a growing commitment to social protection that is restoring dignity, improving livelihoods and giving hope to older persons across the country.
The Government of Uganda has made significant progress in expanding social protection as a key pillar of inclusive development. At the centre of this effort is the Senior Citizens Grant (SCG), a flagship programme under Uganda’s social protection system that now reaches eligible older persons in every district.
The monthly income support enables beneficiaries to meet basic needs such as food, medicine, clothing and other household necessities while reducing dependence on family members.
