MASAKA- The Vice President Major Jessica Alupo Epel has called upon the younger generation to prioritise the dignity of older persons in all spheres and at all times as Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day of Older Persons.
The Vice President made the remarks today while speaking at International Older Persons Day that was held at Liberation Square in Masaka City under the theme, “Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Older Persons: Everyone’s Responsibility because Aging is Not Optional.”
Vice President Alupo who represented President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said that the year’s theme resonates with the government policy on the support it gives the Older Persons in Uganda under the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE).
While speaking at the same event, the Minister of State for Elderly Affairs, Dominic Mafwabi Gidudu, emphasized the importance of the day as a platform for raising awareness and addressing the needs and concerns of older persons.
Minister Gidudu emphasized that the theme of this year’s celebration recognizes the need to pay attention to issues of older persons’ abuse in all forms of manifest.
He noted that the event also provides an opportunity to review progress made in service delivery to older persons, identify challenges, and develop strategies to address them.
The Minister made it categorically clear that the Ugandan government is planning to introduce a law aimed at restoring respect and values for elders, citing concerns that younger generations, influenced by Western culture, are increasingly disregarding the wisdom and guidance of their elders.
“There is a growing challenge of the younger generation failing to appreciate the guidance and wisdom of older persons, largely due to the influence of modernity and Western culture. The Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development is working with the Attorney General to enhance the principles of the Older Persons Bill. This will restore values and ensure respect for elders, particularly in service delivery,” Gidudu said.
According to the recently concluded Uganda Population and Housing Census of June 2024, individuals aged 60 and above make up 5% of the country’s population which is roughly 2.3 million people.
In response to the growing challenges older persons face, the Ministry of Gender has announced plans to begin regulating care homes for the elderly, similar to how children’s homes are regulated.
Minister Gidudu highlighted the impact of weakened family structures on elderly care, noting that the Ministry will collaborate with the Attorney General to ensure care homes for older persons are well-regulated, just as children’s homes are.
While the government does not actively promote institutionalized care, Minister Gidudu acknowledged that compulsory education for children and rapid urban migration has made it difficult for families to care for older relatives in rural areas.
“The Ministry’s monitoring reports show that many private-sector homes have been established to handle elderly care due to the busy work schedules of caregivers and the high costs of home care,” Gidudu added.
The Minister also raised concerns over the various forms of abuse that older persons in Uganda are subjected to. He cited data showing that 86% of the elderly are neglected or isolated by their caregivers, while 44.7% suffer from domestic violence, and 49% endure psychological abuse.
