Lawmakers Demand Urgent Budgeting for Senior Citizens and Better Health Care

 KAMPALA — As Uganda joins the global community to celebrate the International Day for Older Persons, the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Social Protection (UPFSP) has issued a powerful call to action.

Under the national theme “Ageing with Dignity: Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons,” lawmakers are demanding immediate policy changes to protect the country's most vulnerable senior citizens.

In a strong show of solidarity, the UPFSP warned that while older persons are the traditional custodians of Uganda's history, wisdom, and values, many are currently facing unprecedented hardships. The gradual breakdown of traditional family safety nets, rising medical costs, and unexpected economic shocks have left millions of elders vulnerable.

The Push for SAGE Funding:

A primary focus of this year's declaration is the immediate implementation of the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) reforms. While the Forum commended the Cabinet's historic decision to lower the eligibility age from 80 to 65 years and raise the monthly stipend from Shs 25,000 to Shs 35,000, they noted that policy on paper must quickly translate into actual relief.

"We urge the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to ensure immediate budgetary allocations so that no eligible older person is left behind," stated Hon. Emmanuel Ongiertho (MP), writing on behalf of the UPFSP Chairperson.

Overhauling Healthcare for the Elderly:

Beyond direct financial support, the Forum is targeting deep structural gaps in the healthcare system. With the vast majority of older Ugandans currently living without any form of health insurance, the UPFSP is pushing Parliament and the Ministry of Health to urgently pass the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Bill. The bill aims to open up access to affordable, quality medical treatment through a system of cross-subsidization.

Furthermore, lawmakers are advocating for a complete institutional shift toward specialized geriatric care. They are calling for the deliberate training of medical workers to handle age-related illnesses and the construction of senior-friendly infrastructure across all public health facilities.

"True dignity requires a robust and comprehensive social protection system," Hon. Ongiertho emphasized, pledging that the forum will remain aggressive in its legislative duties. "We remain committed to using our legislative, oversight, and budgetary powers to champion laws that safeguard the rights of older persons."

A Collective Responsibility:

The UPFSP closed its address with an appeal to the wider Ugandan community, including civil society, cultural institutions, and the private sector. The message was clear: ensuring a dignified old age is not a task for the government alone, but a collective national duty.

"We call upon all stakeholders, civil society, and the private sector to support efforts towards building a Uganda where ageing is not a source of vulnerability, but a period of comfort and dignity" the statement concluded.