The Rukiga County MP Patrick Kiconco Katabaazi has urged the government to expedite implementation of a Cabinet resolution to lower the eligibility age for the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) from 80 to 65 years.
Kiconco made the call on Monday during the launch of the Rukiga District Community Skilling Programme, dubbed Emikono Yeitu, at Kyeerero Playground in Bukinda Sub-county. The Emikono Yeitu Community Skilling Programme is scheduled to start in October and is being funded by Rukiga District Woman MP Dr Sylvia Arinaitwe, with support from her development partners. The event was officiated by the State Minister for Gender and Culture, Mary Kuteesa Kamuli.
Under the SAGE programme, Ugandans aged 80 years and above currently receive a monthly stipend of Shs25,000. Kiconco said although Cabinet resolved in November 2025 to lower the eligibility age to 65, the decision had not yet been implemented because funds had not been allocated in the 2026/27 financial year budget.
The government had earlier indicated that an additional Shs252.16 billion would be injected into the programme for the 2026/27 financial year, raising the SAGE budget to Shs373.36 billion from the baseline of Shs121.2 billion.
Kiconco, who was involved in the early development of the SAGE programme while working as an economist at Parliament, said the government should honour the Cabinet resolution and extend support to more older persons.
CUE IN KICONCO….ON SAGE….RR//
Responding, Kuteesa said Cabinet had passed the resolution and President Museveni had approved the proposal, but the government was conducting a feasibility study before implementation.
She said the increasing life expectancy of Ugandans, estimated at between 68 and 70 years, could significantly increase the number of SAGE beneficiaries and put pressure on available resources if the age threshold was reduced at once.
Kuteesa said the government was considering a phased approach to lowering the eligibility age instead of reducing it from 80 to 65 years at once.
CUE IN KUTEESA….ON SAGE….RR//
