Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694433989629.pdf (Uganda)
a I f -s THE RE,PUBLIC OF UGANDA MINIS|IIRY OE GENDER, LABOI]R AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMEN|I STTIAITIEMENTTT ON ITIHE NAII'IONAL ROLL OU|II OF IT'HE SENIOR CINTZENS GRANITTS I]NDER TTIHE SOCIAL ASSISIT'ANCE GRANIIIS FOR EMPOWERMENITI (SAGE) PRESENIIIED ITIO PARLIAMENITI OF UGANDA BY IrON.

JANATTI B. Mf]I{WAYA MINISltlER OF GENDEFI, LABOI]R AN-D SOCIAL DEVELOPMENITT AUGUST 2019 1 1.0 lntroduction and Background 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Rt.

Hon.
Hon.

Speaker, I want to thank you for this opportunity you have accorded my ministry to brief this August House on the status of SAGE implementation and the planned national roll out.

Madam Speaker, ln July 2010 the Ministry of Gender, Labour & Social Development (MGLSD) presented a proposal to Cabinet and received approval to implement a pilot Senior Citizen Grant (SCG) scheme in Uganda as part of the wider Expanding Social Protection (ESP) Programme.
ln September 2010, the MGLSD, with support from the UK's Department for lnternational Development (DFID/UKAID), lrish Aid and (initially) UNICEF, launched the Expanding Social Protection Programme, with the goal to reduce poverty through establishing a sustainable National Social Protection system.

Globally, it is now well demonstrated that appropriate social protection measures can alleviate poverty and protect more people from falling into poverty.
The Expanding Social Protection Programme was designed to achieve two objectives, to: (i) Pilot the social grants through the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) scheme, and (ii) Draw lessons from the pilot to develop the Uganda National Social Protection Policy, as a beginning point to build a social protection system for the country.

Madam Speaker, between 2010 and 2015, MGLSD piloted the Senior Citizens Grant in 15 districts.
These were: Amudat, Apac, Kaberamaido, Katakwi, Kiboga, Kole, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Napak, Nebbi, Yumbe and Zombo.

Approximately 123,000 older persons aged 65 and 60 years and above in the case of Karamoja were covered.

Each benefiting older person received a monthly grant of UGX 25,000/=.

The grant registered positive impacts not only on the welfare of the older persons and their immediate family members but also on the local economies.
Following the successful implementation of the Senior Citizen Grant in phase l, Government took a decision to roll out the grants in a phased manner to an additional 40 districts over a period of 5 years from FY 2015116 up to FY2020121.
This roll out started with 20 districts in FY 2015116, and subsequently 5 new districts were added every year, over a 4 year period, as follows: FY 2015/16: Kaabong, Abim, Kotido, Koboko, Gulu, Pader, Agago, Lamwo, Amolatar, Pallisa, Amuria, Kween, Namayingo, Mayuge, Kamuli, Kayunga, Nakasongola, Kibaale, Kisoro and Bundibugyo.
2 FY2016t17: Kitgum, Nakaseke, Kabale, Bugiri, and Amuru FY 2017t18: Dokolo, Sembabule, Kasese, Sheema and Mubende, and FY2018/19: Alebtong, Adjumani, Otuke, Moyo and Kumi 1.5 1.6 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Madam Speaker, by close of FY 2018119, the MGLSD had rolled out the grants to 61 districts.
Madam Speaker, over the years, following the highly visible impacts of the Senior Citizens Grant to individuals, households and communities that receive it, there has been heightened popular demand from all over the country for the Programme to be rolled out to cover all older persons in all districts in the country.

Madam Speaker, you will recall these demands and debates happened in this August House as well.
National Roll Out Madam Speaker, in response to the popular demand for SAGE, in FY 2018119, MGLSD developed and presented several roll out options.

As a result both Cabinet and Parliament directed Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development (MoFPED) to find funds to roll out the Senior Citizens Grant to all districts in the country.

Madam Speaker, you will recall that in June 2018 you instructed MoFPED to make a statement on the floor of Parliament on funding for SAGE Roll out.
The statement made by MFPED was referred to the Committee of Gender; Labour & Social Development of this House which analysed the roll out options in detail and its report was presented and adopted on the floor of parliament.

This August House resolved that the national rollout starts in FY 2019120 by covering people who are 80 years and above, but gradually coming down and ultimately covering all older persons 65 years and above within 3 years.
Madam Speaker, covering all persons of 80 years and above in all the 135 districts in the country, while keeping on board the 157,000 beneficiaries in 61 districts currentlycoverd by the Programme requires Shs 142.46 billion each Financial Year.

Of this, development partners have committed Shs 50 billion in FY 2019120, leaving a balance of Shs 92.46 billion to be covered by the Government of Uganda.

ln FY 2019120, Government has provided 62.88 billion, leaving a shortfall of Shs 29.58 billion.
lt is against this background 3 that my Ministry has put in place the strategy and plans to deliver the national roll out in FY 2019t20.

2.4 Given the resources available, the Ministry will accordingly pay all the existing 157,000 beneficiaries in the 61 districts for 12 months and the new beneficiaries districts for 6 months from January to June 2020 to avoid creating arrears.
This is on the understanding that in the FY 2020121 tvlFPED will provide the full budget of UGX142.46billion to ensure all SAGE beneficiaries are paid for 12 months.

3.0 National Rollout plans & Progress 3.1 Madam Speaker, allow me provide some highlights of the plans for the national roll out and progress thereto: t. ilt IV V VI vil.

vilt.

Signing [\Iemoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with 85 District Local Governments (DLGs) previously not covered by the Programme is already ongoing.
We expect all districts to have signed and returned their MoUs by the end of August 2019 Orientation of Districts on the Programme, training leaders at different levels (District, Sub County and parish) on their roles and responsibilities has been planned for August and September 2019.

A public information campaign to inform the country on the roll out and requirements for eligibility is planned for August - September 2019.
The process of procurement of a new payment service provider and other items to facilitate effective roll out expected to be done by November 2019 Targeting, registering, verifying beneficiaries at community levelwilltake place between September and November 2019.
Bio-metric Enrolment of beneficiaries with payment service providers; and processing of payroll rolls expected to be done December 2019 ln a nut shell, all Roll out preparatory processes will be completed by December 2019 Beneficiary payments in all districts in expected to start January 2020.
3.2 3.3 Madam Speaker; Our Regional Technical Support Units (RTSUs) together with the districts will spearhead specific activities related to preparing potential beneficiaries for payments (namely: targeting, registration, verification, and enrolment and actual payment).

Targeting is the selection of potential beneficiaries of the grants.
ln view of the national roll out, the sole primary source of information for targeting older persons to benefit from the grant will be the National ldentification Registration Authority (NIRA) data.

This is in line with overall Government policy on the national lD.

This therefore means that for one to be targeted they must be: (i) Registered with NIRA and in possession of a valid national lD.

(ii) Of the righUset age threshold as at the time of registration (iii) Not receiving a pension.

4 3.4 Rt.

Hon.
4 3.4 Rt.

Hon.

Speaker, the targeting process is automated through the SAGE Management lnformation System (tvlls) to minimise exclusion and inclusion errors.

The following are the steps: i.

The programme will access data of older persons from the NIRA register ii.

load it into the SAGE MIS at ESP/PMU to have Potential beneficiaries selected in the SAGE MIS iii.

Data of selected older persons is shared with the Ministry of Public Service for screening of pensioners iv.
The lists of older persons from which pensioners have been screened are then shared with the district local Government for verification- to ascertain that the people on the list are known in the community, are alive and are of the right age.

v. The Older Persons who meet the criteria are registered with the Programme and their names shared with the Payment Service Provider for enrolment i.e their details/biometrics (names, photos, finger prints, etc) are taken by the payment service provider.
Accounts are opened for them, and are ready to be paid.

vi.

The details of the enrolled beneficiaries are then returned by the Payment Service Provider to the ESP PMU and stored in the SAGE MIS for use in the generation of the payrolls, vii.

Payrolls are generated and beneficiaries paid in their respective communities directly or through their preferred next of kin - for those who are infirm.

4.0 Conclusion (i) Rt.

Hon.


Speaker, as we start the roll out, permit me to make a special appeal to Members of this August House, to support the preparatory activities through effective mobilization of the population to ensure that the preparatory activities are smoothly concluded in December 2019, to pave way for beneficiary payment in January 2020.

(ii) As a Ministry, we commit to provide all the necessary information to MPs to facilitate this process in their respective constituencies.
(iii) Finally, Rt.

Hon.

Speaker, I would like to thank you and all the Members of Parliament and Cabinet for supporting the proposal for the roll out.

lt is now a reality.

Let us work together to advocate for more funds to make this Programme sustainable.

Madam Speaker I beg to submit For more details call: Acting PS MGLSD 0772517531, Head ESP-SAGE : 0781 478 906 Janat B. Mukwa Minister of Gender, Labour & Social Developmen$ P.O Box 7L36; Kampala, Uganda ajat) 5