Residents in Lira districts are raising concerns over the death of elders before receiving their stipend under the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE).
the government gives out a monthly stipend of 25,000 Shillings to persons aged above eighty in different parts of the country through SAGE.
However, records from the Lira Community Development Office show that 24 beneficiaries died before they received the money in the first phase of the program in June 2020.
Also, by November 2020, 13 out of the 2,029 elders who were supposed to be paid in the second phase of the program died before receiving their money.
This has raised serious queries from leaders and members of the public.
According to Christine Anono the District Senior Community Development Officer, her office is still compiling records for this year. She noted that the age bracket is high for the sub-region, a reason why beneficiaries die before receiving their money.
She says there is a need to lower the age bracket to enable the elderly to receive the money and cover their financial needs.
Other challenges facing the program in the region are beneficiaries not having national IDs and have to walk long distances to the bank.
The State Minister for Elderly Affairs Dominic Mafwabi Gidudu, advised the elderly to observe strict adherence to COVID-19 standard operating procedures- SOPs.
