Poor data reporting hampering planning for older persons
Scholastica Nasinyama, the programme manager in charge of older persons under the Special Interest Groups in the gender ministry, said accurate and timely information from communities is critical in enabling the newly inaugurated 3rd National Council for Older Persons to advocate for better services and policies.
Elder persons and other participants during the induction of the 3rd National Council for Older Persons at Hotel Africana on August 31, 2026. (Credit: Nancy Nanyonga)
KAMPALA - Poor data collection and reporting on the challenges facing older persons is hampering efforts to adequately integrate their needs into government planning and programmes, a senior official has noted.
Scholastica Nasinyama, the programme manager in charge of older persons under the Special Interest Groups in the gender ministry, said accurate and timely information from communities is critical in enabling the newly inaugurated 3rd National Council for Older Persons to advocate for better services and policies.
Nasinyama made the remarks during a three-day induction workshop for members of the National Council for Older Persons and other stakeholders at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Monday (August 31).
“You need to develop a reporting tool where data about challenges of older persons in your regions is collected and relayed to the secretariat to be fed to our Members of Parliament and the minister to raise them as concerns in Cabinet and on the floor of Parliament,” she observed.
Nasinyama also called for development and sharing work plans with relevant older persons’ organisations, including non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations, saying this will help to mobilise support and escalate issues to the relevant authorities.
Scholastica Nasinyama Program Manager National Council for Older Person addressing participants during the induction of the 3rd National Council for Older Persons at Hotel Africana on August 31, 2026. (Credit: Nancy Nanyonga)
The induction workshop followed the inauguration of the 3rd National Council for Older Persons by the Minister of State for Elderly Affairs, Jacqueline Mbabazi, on August 11, 2026.
The council is mandated to communicate the needs, concerns and challenges of older persons to government, monitor the extent to which their needs are incorporated into planning and service delivery, and coordinate with government departments and other service providers.
The induction was intended to equip the new council with knowledge on its mandate, government planning processes, social protection programmes and the situation of older persons in Uganda, as well as strengthen its ability to mobilise, advocate for and monitor programmes targeting older persons.
The council is also expected to strengthen its links with districts and lower councils for older persons and build partnerships with other stakeholders to ensure that issues affecting older persons remain on the Government agenda.
Other groups being inducted include persons living with disabilities, women, youths, and workers.