By Ivan Mugisha
Kitagwenda District — Elderly persons in Kitagwenda District are appealing to the government to increase funding for the Special Enterprise Grant for Older Persons (SEGOP) to enable more beneficiaries to access the program’s support.
The elders say that although the initiative has significantly improved the livelihoods of those who have benefited, the funds currently available are too limited to meet the growing demand among the district’s elderly population.
According to Nicholus Rugumayo, the Kitagwenda District Chairperson for Older Persons, the program has had a positive impact by helping recipients start small income-generating projects, but its reach remains minimal due to inadequate funding.
“Since the 2019/2020 financial year, the district has received only shs 45 million, which was shared among nine groups across the entire district. Many deserving older persons have been left out,” Rugumayo said.
He noted that the limited funding has restricted the number of beneficiaries and called upon the government to allocate more resources to the program to improve the welfare of senior citizens.
Launched in 2019, the Special Enterprise Grant for Older Persons targets Ugandans aged 60 to 79 years, including those living with disabilities. The program aims to empower them through financial support for small enterprises that can enhance their livelihoods and reduce dependency.
Elders in the district have urged the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to consider scaling up the program’s budget in the upcoming financial year to ensure equitable access to the grant.
