Senior Citizens Petition Museveni Over Pension, Access to Health

By Patrick Jaramogi, The New Vision

November 21, 2010

Uganda

The older persons of Uganda have petitioned President Museveni to designate a special day for them to access treatment in health centers across the country. 

The older persons under their umbrella organisation, Uganda Reach the Aged Association (URAA) also want a special seat for the older persons in Parliament. According to the Uganda National Household survey (UNHS0 2005/6 report, there are at least 1.2 million older persons in Uganda with 53% being female while 47% are male. 

“It is not fair for us. The youth are recognized, the army, the disabled and women why not us the old people who have served this country diligently?” asked John Baluku. 

The URAA chairperson Prof. Anthony Gingyera-Pinycwa said the overall situation of older person in Uganda is still very depressing with majority of older persons living in abject poverty. 

‘Only 7.1% of the older persons in Uganda have access to their pension, the rest require social protection through some kind of assistance to enable them cope with this vulnerability,” he said. 

The URAA at their annual general meeting held at the Cardinal Nsubuga leadership training institute in Nsambya on Sunday also demanded that government supports the existing civil society organizing dealing with older persons. 

“The older persons in the informal sector are the poorest among the poor. There is need for government intervention to provide National Old Age Grants,” read the petition dated October 29th that New Vision obtained. 

The petition is signed by Ambassador Ignatius Katetegirwe, Hon. George Iga Endayange, Peter Nyakatura and Jovia Bataka. 

The older persons also described accessing credit in traditional financial institutions and commercial banks as a “night mare”. 

“Traditionally the older persons are supposed to be highly respected in the Ugandan society, however the factors of urbanization, modernization, individualism and migration have combined to undermine the older persons socio-economic security and traditional levels of respect,” said Prof. Gingyera. 

“These need for affirmative action for older persons to access Boonabaggagawale scheme,” said former Hoima Resident district commissioner Cornelius Bakelura. 

President Museveni’s private secretary in charge of the elderly Juliana Bazuidenhout said the president was scheduled to meet the older persons to hear their views. 

“We got their petition and the President has promised to meet them and hear their views. But it is important that they know that the National policy for older persons is active while plans are underway to formulate the National Council for Older persons,” she told New Vision. 

Bazuidenhout said once the National Council of older persons comes into force, all concerns of the older persons will be channeled and handled through that council. 

She said cabinet had discussed the paper and it was awaiting approval from Parliament.

Copyright © Global Action on Aging
Terms of Use  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us