Older persons encouraged to engage in income generating activities
Individuals of advanced age have been encouraged to form groups and engage in income generating projects to secure the remaining years of their lives.
During the sensitization for Kigarama ward, Bisheshe Division for individuals aged between 60- 79, about the government’s special enterprise grant for older persons, Ibanda Municipality councilor, Leonard Ford Karera said there was no reason for sober and energetic old people to depend on children when they can do businesses and provide for themselves.
Karera said they were still strong at this age to do projects like goat rearing, vegetable growing, piggery and poultry to ensure a stable source of income to lead good lives.
He explained to the over 40 participants in Kigarama town that the government will give the grants to only those organized in groups of 5-10 members and each beneficiary will get a UGX 1m grant from the government to start up income generating initiatives.
Amina Mbabazi, the Ibanda Municipality publicity older persons’ publicity secretary said the government doesn’t want to first wait for them to become weak to start giving the money through the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) welfare fund.
Stella Katumusiime, from Kagorogoro cell, appreciated the government for considering them for the grants, saying many old people would want to be self-reliant, but lack funds to engage in income-generating projects.
