Page 23 - Social Protection Newsletter

Nsr suCCess storIes

such as cultivation of land as well as for meeting
the education and scholastic needs of children/
grandchildren under the care of older persons.
Strong support and appreciation for H.E the
President and Government has been observed
among SAGE beneficiaries. Older persons attribute
the grant to H.E the President and the NRM
Government. Moreover, support is not just among
older persons, even younger people support
the programme as it enables them to save and
invest their own incomes elsewhere because
older persons are now able to meet some of their
own basic needs rather than looking up to their
children and grandchildren for support.
The programme has reduced dependency of
older persons on their children offspring. This has
restored the esteem and place of older persons
in the communities. It has also created stability
at the households and provided a bedrock of payments. Local people who have labour are An elder displays some
support to Government upon which older persons employed to work for beneficiaries for example of the products he sells
at his shop
influence the younger ones. the local boda boda (motor cycle taxis) benefit
Besides local people, SAGE has boosted local from hire by older persons. In short, everyone
economic activity by increased purchasing power in the community benefits. Other studies show
among SAGE beneficiary households and increased that SAGE beneficiaries in areas that have good
demand for local goods and services. This has infrastructure (particularly roads) report having
resulted in the establishment of new businesses better returns on their grant, which points to the
and markets to supply essential commodities in fact that the grants help communities to utilise
SAGE benefiting locations. infrastructure that Government has put in place
It has also increased social inclusion and and the infrastructure helps people to get better
empowerment. Beneficiaries, especially women, value for their investment.
consistently report improved participation in Available data indicates that 75% of older
community affairs, sense of self-esteem and persons are heads of households with responsibility
empowerment. Older people report feeling less to care for their families, especially grandchildren
discriminated against in their communities and (estimated at an average of 4 children per older
more valued by their families on account of their person) who need assistance in form of food,
ability to make social contributions to community- educational materials, counselling and guidance,
based social support mechanisms which are based medical care, among others. Worse still, 52.8 %
on reciprocity (funerals, weddings, etc). of older women are widows and 86% of older
Impacts on poverty: Analysis based on the persons are breadwinners of households but
UNHS 2009/10, confirms that national roll-out of without any source of income (UBOS 2012/13).
the SCG would Deliver a basic level of income The grant, therefore, goes a long way to support available data
security to around 1.2 million older people, lift older persons and to enable them live a dignified indicates that 75%
at least 1.2 million older people and household life. The consistent choice of H.E Yoweri Kaguta
members out of extreme poverty, improve Museveni as President of Uganda over the years, of older persons
economic security for an additional 1.7 million testifies to the hope, confidence and trust that are heads of
people who are highly vulnerable to falling into older persons and the people of Uganda in households with
poverty, and benefit 3 million of Uganda’s most general continue to have in the NRM Government. responsibility
vulnerable children. As another 5-year term (2021-2026) begins, to care for their
The multiplier effects of the grants are the sustainability of the SAGE programme is families especially
beginning to be seen. The increased purchasing undoubtedly guaranteed through this continuous grandchildren
power in the community means that the local commitment to the delivery of the SAGE Grants.
shopkeepers have market for their goods and
services, and actually report stock out during

Social Protection neWSletter 23