Elderly Persons Scheme Blocked 

By Madinah Tebajjukira, the New Visions

Uganda

April 3, 2008

The gender ministry has been asked to suspend the implementation of a money transfer scheme in which elderly persons were to earn sh18,000 monthly. 

“The ministry should first come up with a policy and we debate it. Starting a scheme which is not budgeted for is not good because its source of funding is not clear. It depends on donors. Suppose they pull out, what happens?” Jalia Bintu, the chairperson of the parliamentary committee on opportunities, said on Wednesday. 

The scheme, which was supposed to kick off last month, targeted 407 households in the districts of Kiboga, Katakwi, Kaberamaido, Nebbi, Apac, and Kyenjojo. 

Discussing a petition by The Aged Family Uganda, Alex Ndeezi (People With Disabilities), moved a motion to block the scheme. He was seconded by Sarah Mpabwa, the UPDF representative. The committee asked the gender ministry to further explain the proposal. 

In October 2006 and May 2007, the association which advocates for the rights of older persons petitioned Parliament over discrimination, marginalisation, injustice and failure by the Electoral Commission to organise elections for representatives of older persons. 

However, officials from the gender ministry said the Government had plan to reduce poverty among the marginalised groups. Bintu questioned the criteria used in selecting the districts. “There are many districts, but how did they choose the six? We are suspicious.”

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