Many elderly residents in Bundibugyo District have been left out of the Senior Citizens Grant (SCG) due to gaps in registration and data management, raising concerns about access to the government’s social protection program.
Despite 1,337 registered beneficiaries, several seniors say they were not captured in the system and are not receiving the funds.
The SCG, implemented under the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) program by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, is designed to support vulnerable older persons and reduce poverty.
District Community Development Officer Saimon Mugisa says authorities are now training Sub-County Community Development Officers and Parish Chiefs to improve identification and registration of beneficiaries.
He emphasizes that accurate records, including next of kin and health details, are critical for the program’s success. Mugisa notes that better coordination at the community level will help ensure eligible elderly persons are not left out.
District Community Development Officer in charge of disability affairs, Agnes Tushabe, says many seniors above 80 years are missing out due to errors in data submitted to the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA).
She explains that since the SCG system is linked to the NIRA database, any inaccuracies automatically exclude beneficiaries. Tushabe urges affected individuals to update their personal details with NIRA to be included in the system.
Eighty-three-year-old Augustine Mupalya, a resident of Ntandi Town Council, says he only learned about the program on the radio last year, but his attempts to register failed after records indicated he was a resident of Kasese. He says more awareness is needed to help elderly people access such programs.
The SCG provides 75,000 shillings quarterly, paid in three installments of 25,000 shillings.
Mugisa says efforts are underway to correct the data gaps, stressing the need for proper record-keeping and community sensitization to ensure that no eligible elderly person is left behind. URN