Ministry of State for Elderly Affairs unveiled a series of ambitious initiatives aimed at safeguarding and empowering Uganda’s aging population, estimated at over four million individuals.
During a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre, the Minister of State for Elderly Affairs, Dominic Gidudu Mafwabi, addressed the growing concerns of elder abuse and economic vulnerability in the wake of recent economic pressures.
Gidudu addressed the challenges facing older Ugandans citing data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, he noted that the elderly population those aged 60 and above now constitutes nearly 9% of the country’s 48 million people, a figure projected to double by 2040 due to improved healthcare and declining birth rates.
“Our elders are the custodians of our history and the pillars of our families. Yet, too many face neglect, abuse, and financial hardship in their twilight years,” Gidudu declared.
He also noted that effective January 2026, the monthly stipend for registered beneficiaries will increase from UGX 75,000 to UGX 120,000, a 60% hike designed to offset inflation and rising living costs.
“This is not charity, it is justice, we are allocating an additional UGX 200 billion from the national budget to cover this enhancement, ensuring no eligible elder is left behind,” Gidudu emphasized.
Gidudu mentioned that eligibility will be streamlined through a digital registration portal launching next month, targeting the current 1.2 million beneficiaries and aiming to enroll 500,000 more within the year.The minister also spotlighted a renewed offensive against elder abuse, building on the 2023 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day commitments.
According to the minister, a UGX 50 billion multi year fund will support community based protection programs, including mandatory reporting hotlines, legal aid clinics, and awareness campaigns in local languages.
“Abuse whether physical, financial, or emotional will no longer be tolerated in our society,” he stated firmly.
Gidudu revealed plans to revive and scale up income generating projects for the elderly, echoing the government’s 2023 allocation of UGX 5 billion for ventures like poultry farming, beekeeping, and artisan cooperatives. Gidudu’s briefing also touched on broader policy alignments, including integration with President Museveni’s Parish Development Model to prioritize elderly-led households stating “The NRM government’s vision is inclusive; our elders deserve dignity in retirement.”
He affirmed, crediting the President’s personal advocacy for the funding surge as Uganda grapples with a youth heavy demographic shift toward an aging society.
