By Philip Opio
SOROTI — The Government of Uganda is set to disburse Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) funds to elderly persons in Ocokican Sub-county, Soroti District, in a move aimed at improving livelihoods among older citizens.
According to the Community Development Officer, Francis Egudu, the funds have been allocated through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to support elderly persons aged 80 years and above under the SAGE program.
Egudu revealed that the payment exercise has been scheduled for April 15, 2026, when all registered beneficiaries in the sub-county will receive their quarterly support.
“Each beneficiary will receive UGX 75,000 as part of the quarterly SAGE payments,” Egudu said.
He encouraged residents to embrace government programs as a pathway to reducing poverty at the household level, noting that such initiatives are designed to uplift vulnerable groups in the community.
Meanwhile, Ocokican Sub-county Chairperson Geoffrey Stephen Ebunyu called on the government to review the eligibility criteria, proposing that the age threshold be lowered from 80 to 60 years to allow more vulnerable individuals to benefit.
“There is a need for government to consider reducing the age to at least 60 years because many vulnerable people are left out,” Ebunyu said.
Similarly, the Sub-county Secretary for Finance, Mackay Eyumu, noted that many elderly persons fail to benefit due to the strict age requirement, which excludes a large portion of those in need.
Some elderly residents also voiced their concerns, urging the government to expand the program to include all Ugandans aged 60 and above. They argued that many older individuals continue to struggle despite existing government interventions.
The SAGE program is part of Uganda’s social protection strategy aimed at supporting elderly citizens to meet basic needs and improve their quality of life.
As the payment exercise approaches, local leaders remain optimistic that the funds will provide relief to beneficiaries while also renewing calls for broader inclusion in future phases of the program.
