Page 12 - Expanding Social Protection (ESP) Programme - Newsletter

GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT

Fulfilling Government Commitment

to Social Protection through SAGE

Frank Kavuma, Operations Officer,
Kiboga SAGE Regional Office

he Government of
Uganda continues
to demonstrate
its unwavering
T commitment
to social protection through
the Social Assistance Grant for
Empowerment (SAGE) programme.
This initiative, designed to
support senior citizens, ensures
that beneficiaries receive Ugx
25,000 per month, disbursed on a A SAGE beneficiary confirms her cash
quarterly basis, to help meet their before exiting the pay point in Kikuube
basic needs. The grant is currently district, on January 31, 2025
delivered through Centenary Rural The local government
Development Bank, the contracted
Payment Service Provider. counterparts play a crucial counterparts play a crucial role
On designated field payment role of mobilization of of mobilization of older persons
days, hundreds of beneficiaries older persons to turn up at to turn up at pre-determined
gather at payment centers within pre-determined payment payment locations to collect their
their communities to receive their locations to collect their grant. Other leaders including
entitlements. Before the payments grant. the Community Development
are made, a pre-payment address is Officers (CDOs), Parish Chiefs, and
conducted by teams from the local Local Council (LC I) leaders also
government, SAGE Programme direct cash transfer, which is support information dissemination,
and the Payment Service Provider, consistent, reliable and predictable. programme monitoring and
to provide basic financial literacy The SAGE Programme relies on management at lower local
to the beneficiaries. The message local governments structures to government level.
communicated during this support implementation. In fact, at In addition to delivering
session includes details such local government level, the Senior payments in the field, field teams
as the amount to be paid and Community Development Officer play a crucial role in conducting;
the payment period. The Senior is the Focal Point Person of the Verification, Registration,
Citizens Grant is an unconditional Programme. The local government and Enrollment, a process of

12 ESP PROGRAMME NEWSLETTER / MARCH - JUNE 2025