Social Services Better than Cash for the Poor

The New Vision

October 5, 2010

Uganda

The Government is committed to formulating a social protection policy for vulnerable groups like the poorest of the poor and the elderly. This programme is in partnership with Britain, through the Department for International Development Programme (DFID), over a period of five years. 

The programme aims at providing cash allowance worth sh22,000 to the target group to enable them buy basic necessities like food, medicine, uniforms and books for their children. DFID has already remitted £14m for the project. The Irish Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund are also partners in the project. This is a welcome gesture which demonstrates that the Government cares for its senior and vulnerable citizens. 

However, there are likely to be pitfalls in the programme that might hinder it from achieving its stated objectives. During the pilot period, it would be wise to first establish the circumstances of the beneficiary households. Not all the elderly are poor. 

The programme could go a long way in changing the lives of the vulnerable group in a very fundamental way. Perhaps, rather than cash, the beneficiaries would be better served if the Government and donor partners established rehabilitation centres in every parish equipped with food, medicine and qualified staff, including counsellors and medical practitioners. Such personnel would be in a good position to handle the psychological and mental challenges of the beneficiaries. 

A cash grant may not be very beneficial because the beneficiaries may not spend the money on essential needs. For example, when graduated tax was scrapped, there is nothing to show that the lot who were relieved of the burden of that tax has improved in any way. Instead, many have become addicted to alcohol since there is no compelling reason to work.

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