BREAKING! Gov’t Lowers Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment, (SAGE) Eligibility Age

The government has made a decision to lower the eligibility age for SAGE from the current 80 years to 65 years effective next financial year 2026/27. In addition government will increase the monthly stipend to Shs35,000 up from Shs25,000

In this, government will provide an additional budget worth Shs252.16bn to the program in the financial year 2026/27.

This will be a top up to the current budget of Shs 121.2bn bringing the total budget to Shs373.36bn required to reach the 1,048,598 beneficiaries aged 65 years and above. This is intended to boost the income security for older persons.

This was revealed by the Minister of State for Elderly Affairs Dominic Mafabi Gidudu on Thursday 20th November 2025 at the Uganda Media Center in Kampala. He says government aims to “enhance, increase access and ensure sustainability” of programs supporting Uganda’s older persons.

The minister revealed this today while addressing the media at Uganda Media Centre about the cabinet decisions to enhance access to social protection programmes for the older persons.

“The Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment provides senior citizens a predictable monthly cash transfer to support them access basic needs and live dignified lives,” said Gidudu.

He also revealed government plans to clear Sh20.6 billion in accumulated SAGE arrears and provide Sh5 billion to cover unfunded groups under the Special Enterprise Grant for Older Persons (SEGOP) during the 2025/26 financial year.