Senior District Development Officers Receive Motorcycles to Implement SAGE Program

The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, through the Expanding Social Protection (ESP) Programme has delivered a total of 135 motorcycles to enhance implementation of the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) a Grant to older persons across the country.

This delivered of the motorcycles which shall be distributed to 135 districts was held at Kololo Independence Grounds on Tuesday.

The Senior Citizens Grant under the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) was piloted in the country in 2010.

While officiating at the handover ceremony at Kololo ceremonial grounds, the Minister of State for Elderly and PWDs, Sarah Kanyike thanked development partners for supporting the SAGE Programme.

Kanyike noted that the motorcycles shall be used by the Senior Community Development Officer (SCDO) who is the SAGE Focal Person at the district.

The Director, Social Protection Programme, Mr. James Ebitu, appreciated the contribution by the district leadership towards the implementation of the Programme.

He said through the Senior Community Development Officers (SCDO) at the district, the Programme has registered tremendous strides.

The motorcycles are part of the financial support from Development Partners; Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Irish Aid, to the Government of Uganda, towards service delivery enhancement at the grassroots.

The motorcycles were handed over to the Chief Administrative Officers, who oversee the implementation of the Programme at the district level.

Working together with the Regional Technical Support Units of the Programme, the SCDOs are continually in touch with the Sub-county and Parish Chiefs, mainly to do mobilization work for the Programme.

The provision of the motorcycles will support the SAGE Focal Persons to carry out Programme activities without a glitch.

The SAGE programme provides monthly grants of UGX 25,000 to older persons who are 80 years and above in 135 districts.

With the SAGE Grant, beneficiaries are able to meet their basic needs, access basic services, form saving groups and start income generating activities like rearing of animals and tree planting.