Government of Uganda recently implemented the national rollout of the SAGE Programme.
The Programme now boasts of presence in all the 135 districts including Kampala Capital City Authority.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development is charged with overseeing the implementation, through the Expanding Social Protection (ESP) Programme established in 2010.
Beneficiaries of the Programme are older persons who are 80 years and above.
However, according to Sarah Kanyike, the state minister for the elderly and the disabled -- the eligibility age will be lowered when the economy improves.
The Ministry works hand in hand with districts to implement the Programme.
The Senior Community Development Officer (SCDO) is the SAGE Focal Person at the district.
Working together with the Regional Technical Support Units of the Programme, The SCDOs mainly do mobilization for the Programme.
The provision of the motorcycles will support the day to day running of Programme activities by the SAGE Focal Persons.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development Aggrey D. Kibenge appreciated the CAOs for supporting the Programme.
“Before the older persons receive their payments, there are a number of processes conducted by the Programme namely; targeting, verification/registration, enrolment and finally payments. The processes of verification/registration, enrolment and payments take place in the districts under the supervision of the Chief Administrative Officers,” he said.
The motorcycles are part of the support from Development Partners; Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Irish Aid, to the Government of Uganda towards service delivery enhancement.
The handover ceremony took place at Kololo Independence Grounds on Tuesday, December 8.
The Programme Management Unit manages implementation through 10 Regional Technical Support Units, with a number of districts under each RTSU, namely; Kyenjojo (14), Kiboga (14), Gulu (15), Moroto (12), Kaberamaido (13), Kamuli (14), Mbarara (15), Mbale (13), Nebbi (11) and Kampala (14 districts) including Kampala Capital City Authority.
The programme provides monthly grants of UGX 25,000 to older persons who are 80 years and above in 135 districts.
It was piloted in 15 districts and has since become a national Programme, covering older persons in all districts.
Over 304,000 beneficiaries benefited from the national rollout of SAGE payments.
