Over sh11b paid out to elderly persons in 14 districts

By Patrick Okino

The Government has spent sh11.3b to support 70,000 elderly persons under the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment programme.

Elderly and disabilities state minister Sulaiman Madada said the beneficiaries are from 14 districts, where the programme is being piloted.

He added that each beneficiary has been getting sh24,000 per month.

Madada said this during a visit by MPs on the parliamentary social affairs committee to Apac district on Wednesday.

“The NRM Government is proud of this achievement because we have learnt that the beneficiaries have taken advantage of it to transform their lives and those of their families,” Madada said.

He said the success of the pilot programme has attracted demand for it from other districts where the programme has not yet been rolled out.

The MPs urged the Government to increase to sh72,000 the amount of money given to the beneficiaries every month and also consider rolling it out to all the districts in the country.

Pronancy Acio, a beneficiary, said the money enabled her to prepare her garden for planting, send her grandchildren to school and also meet other needs.