Elderly individuals in Bulera Sub County, Mityana District were deeply affected when one of their own passed away while awaiting her Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) stipend. The incident took place at the sub county headquarters one Wednesday morning. The deceased, Aliveera Nyiragasigwa, 81, resided in Bunnya Village, Mityana District.
According to Ms. Jonitah Nakyanzi, 74, who was present at the scene, Nyiragasigwa collapsed around 11am while waiting to collect her payments for January, February, and March 2024. Nakyanzi emphasized the challenges faced by elderly individuals during the collection of their SAGE disbursements, including long journeys and delays by program staff.
Ms. Sarah Ssentamu, a councilor representing the district's elderly population, expressed her condolences and promised to address the issues raised by Nyiragasigwa's death. She proposed exploring alternative methods such as direct deposits to beneficiaries' accounts.
Sadly, this tragedy is not an isolated incident. Similar incidents have occurred in other districts, including Kisoro and Amuria, highlighting the risks and challenges faced by elderly citizens in accessing their SAGE benefits.
SAGE, launched in 2013, aims to support Ugandans over 65 years old (later raised to 80 in some districts) with quarterly payments. However, many beneficiaries find the amount insufficient, especially given the rising cost of living. Despite efforts to improve the wellbeing of vulnerable citizens, Uganda's social protection program covers only a small percentage of the population, with limited financial allocation from the government.
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