SAGE rollout, new beneficiaries speak out

"I will invest the money in a small roadside business to sell sweet yellow bananas. The proceeds will help me buy basic needs such as soap, sugar and soap," narrates the overjoyed Halima Gingo, a resident of Namunsi parish in Kasanja sub-county in Mbale district.

Gingo who leaves alone, has been depending on hand outs from good Samaritans.

"Sometimes I get generous people who give me money; sh500 or sh1000 which I use to buy sugar or soap," she testified and quickly adds; sometimes she gets financial support from her daughter who stays in Busia district.

Maria Mugidde, 80 also a resident of Kasanja sub-county could not hide her excitement.  Mugidde who takes care of five grandchildren said she is going to use part of the money to pay school fees balances for the two school going children.

"I will use about sh60, 000 to pay fees balance and I will apportion the sh15, 000 to buy sugar, soap and salt," she said.

Another, Khalid Guloba 83, a resident of Mbale district said he will invest the money in his grocery shop business that he operates at his home.

"I want to expand my business through buying more merchandise such as soap, sugar, beans, rice and maize flour," Guloba noted.

He acknowledged government for talking the move to rollout the programme. According to Guloba, with the programme benefiting older persons in the threshold of 80 years and above creates fairness. 

These were the endless testimonies that the new SAGE beneficiaries shared during the launch of the national roll out of the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) March 8.

The launched was part of the activities to mark the national celebration of the International Women's Day at at Maluku grounds in Mbale district.

SAGE, is part of expanding social protection (ESP) programme implemented by the gender ministry and it provides a monthly allowance of sh25, 000 to support older persons' welfare.

In November 2018, the government took a decision to roll out the SAGE programme, to all districts in the country, starting this financial year.

Gender minister, Frank Tumwebaze minister said the rollout was implemented based on the adjusted age threshold of 80 years and above for all the new districts of Uganda.

Tumwebaze said by June 2020, the rollout will be completed and a total of 358,000 older persons will be benefiting from the programme.