By Caroline Nakire
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has proposed a law to protect older persons from abuse and inheritance disputes, alongside specialised geriatric care in every district.
He made the proposals on Friday during Uganda’s celebration of the International Day of Older Persons at State House, Entebbe, under the theme, “Ageing with Dignity; Strengthening Care and Support Systems.”
The International Day of Older Persons was designated by the UN General Assembly in 1990 to promote respect and support for ageing populations. Uganda began commemorating it in 1999.
Museveni said Uganda needs a deliberate policy for its estimated 2.3 million older persons.
“Elders are not new in society. They have always been there. I have not participated much in developing a deliberate policy for them. I think it is high time we do so,” he said.
He said the policy should be built around three traditional pillars—family, wealth and a home.
“An elder has a family, what we call omugurusi or omukakikuru. Very few elders don’t have families. Those are called encweekye. Secondly, an elder has wealth like cows, goats, land and these days buildings and investments. Thirdly, he has a home,” he said.
The President said relations between older persons and younger relatives should be based on mutual respect and consultation.
He noted that while some elders make property decisions without consulting younger relatives, some children neglect their parents or attempt to interfere with their inheritance.
Citing the biblical command to honour parents, Museveni said Government should legislate to protect older persons.
“We should actually make a law because in our tradition elders should be protected from these children who disrespect them and try to distort inheritance like the prodigal son,” he said.
He cautioned against excessively subdividing family land among children, saying this could weaken household wealth.
He urged sensitisation of older persons on modern wealth-management options, including shares, instead of repeatedly dividing land.
On healthcare, Museveni proposed specialised services for older persons at district level.
He said geriatricians specialise in the healthcare of older people, just as paediatricians specialise in children’s healthcare.
“Maybe we can have a geriatrician per district. We can provide scholarships to doctors to study and specialise and after three years they are equipped,” he said.
He also encouraged older persons to exercise regularly and avoid lifestyle factors such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
Museveni launched the Daily Exercises Chart for Older Persons, developed by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, containing simple exercises to help older persons remain active and strong.
Museveni defended the inclusion of older persons in the Parish Development Model (PDM), despite concerns among some parish officials about loan repayment.
“I hear some chiefs fear giving elders money, claiming they don’t pay back. We insist that elders must get PDM money and if they don’t pay back there is no problem. The issue should be not misusing the money,” he said.
He said activities such as goat rearing could provide income without requiring strenuous physical labour.
On the Senior Citizens Grant (SAGE), Museveni said Government was aware of proposals to lower the qualifying age from 80 to 65 years and increase the monthly payment from Shs25,000 to Shs35,000, but faced competing priorities.
Minister for ICT and National Guidance Justine Kasule Lumumba said older persons had helped preserve cultural traditions, contributed to the economy and provided guidance to younger generations.
Minister of State for Older Persons Jacqueline Mbabazi said more than 1.6 million older persons are breadwinners, challenging the perception that they are largely dependent on others.
She said less than seven per cent of older persons have access to social protection, while a significant share of their allowances is spent on healthcare.
National Council for Older Persons Chairperson Ann Muhindo called for adequate medicines at Health Centre IIIs, decentralised pension verification and free legal services for older persons facing land disputes.
She also asked Government to implement the proposed SAGE changes from the next financial year.
Ireland’s Ambassador to Uganda, Mags Gaynor, described older persons as custodians of knowledge and urged the Government and development partners to ensure social protection programmes are predictable and reliable.