RUKUNGIRI – The Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development in charge of Elderly Affairs, Jacqueline Mbabazi, has pledged increased government support for older persons, including better social protection, healthcare, and economic empowerment.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Minister made the pledge on Thursday at a meeting with older persons at Rukungiri District Council Hall, where she urged local leaders to prioritise the elderly in district budgets and development programmes.
Hon. Jacqueline Mbabazi said the 2024 census recorded about 2.3 million older persons, expected to rise to roughly 2.6 million in the following years, expressing concern that many support large households despite limited resources.
The Minister, who also doubles as the MP for older persons in Parliament, noted that older persons should also benefit from the Parish Development Model (PDM), taking a portion of 10 percent of the Shs100 million allocated to each parish.
She further announced that the government is expected to expand the Social Assistance Grant by increasing the benefit to Shs35,000 for Empowerment by reducing the eligibility age from 80 to 65, hopefully by the next financial year.
Hon. Jacqueline Mbabazi stressed that the government is considering medical insurance for older persons, possibly using part of the SAGE grant for premiums once the monthly payment rises.
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She further said the government is working with the police and other authorities to address violence and abuse against older persons, while urging elderly people to report cases through their local councils.
Mbabazi also called for faster handling of cases involving older persons in courts and said discussions were ongoing with the public service authorities on challenges affecting pensioners.
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Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the National Council for Older Persons (NCOP), Mrs. Ann Muhindo Bakazimbaga, urged district leaders to ensure that the needs of older persons are incorporated into district budgets.
She called on leaders of older persons’ councils to work with Community Development Officers and other officials to identify elderly people in their communities and use the information to improve planning and lobbying for government support.
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The Rukungiri District LC V Councillor for Older Persons, George Ruraka Byaruhanga, has called on the government to enhance healthcare delivery for the elderly, saying better services are critical to their well-being and dignified ageing.
Byaruhanga urged the government to strengthen medical insurance for older persons, adequately equip Health Centre IIIs, prioritise elderly patients at health facilities, and establish government-subsidised homes for older persons.
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The meeting was attended by Rukungiri Resident District Commissioner Mable Karazarwe, the Chief Administrative Officer, the LC5 Chairperson, older persons from the district, and other invited guests.
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