Govt urged to raise older persons monthly pension to sh140,000

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Civil society leaders have urged the Government to increase the monthly pension given to persons aged 80 and above. They say the shillings 25,000 is insufficient to cover their basic needs such as food, healthcare, housing, water, sanitation and transport.

Unlike countries such as Denmark and several African nations, Uganda currently has no law guaranteeing pension rights for older persons. The existing support for non-contributory pensioners comes through the Senior Citizens Grant (SCG), part of the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) programme.

According to the gender ministry, about 306,500 older Ugandans receive this grant out of an estimated 2.3 million people aged 60 and above.

Angela Kasule, the executive director of the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER), has called for the enactment of a social protection law to guarantee pensions for all Ugandans aged 60 and above.

Angela Kasule, the executive director of the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER) delivering a presentation during the launch of the report. (Photo by John Odyek)

“We urge the Government to expand coverage to ensure no one is left out, increase the monthly pension from shillings 25,000 to 140,000 by 2040 and secure tax-based funding,” Kasule said.

Kasule estimated that covering 2.6 million beneficiaries at shillings 140,000 per month would cost shillings 5.2 trillion by 2040, equivalent to 1.1% of Uganda’s GDP.

The call came during the launch of a report: A People’s Pension: The Right to Social Security for Older Persons – Comparative Perspectives from Southern and Eastern Africa. The report was produced by ISER and Research & Action for Income Security (RAISE) and launched at Protea Hotel in Kampala city on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

The report highlights that 48% of older persons aged 65 and above live in multidimensional poverty. It notes that countries like South Africa, Kenya and Mauritius have transitioned from small charity-style payments to universal, tax-funded pensions.

These countries have enacted laws to protect pension rights, established clear funding mechanisms and steadily increased payouts so older citizens can live with dignity.

Stephen Kasaija, the head of the Expanding Social Protection programme at the gender ministry, said older persons constitute 5% of Uganda’s population, with only two-thirds engaged in work. Public expenditure on social protection in Uganda currently stands at 0.7% of GDP, compared to an average of 1% in other African countries.

Stephen Kasaija, the head of the Expanding Social Protection Programme at the ministry of gender, labour and social development speaking during the launch. (Photo by John Odyek)

Kasaija emphasised the need to scale up social protection, strengthen informal sector coverage, lower the eligibility age and enact the national health insurance scheme.

He highlighted financial services like loans and insurance offered by Letshego Uganda as complementary support to the SAGE programme, though not specifically tailored for older persons.

Most spent-on transport

Harriet Rwabugahye from Buikwe district described the pension amount as a mere token, too little to meet the needs of older persons, and refuted claims that the money is primarily used for school fees of grandchildren.

Livingstone Ssebunya from Kayunga district shared that older persons often spend nearly half their pension on transport and helpers to collect the grant at sub-county headquarters. He urged for a universal pension scheme, contrasting Uganda’s system with Denmark’s, where pension is a universal right, not a privilege.

Livingstone Ssebunya from Kayunga District speaking during the launch of the report. (Photo by John Odyek)

“Be kind when making provisions for older persons because everyone becomes old,” Ssebunya said.

John Orach, the chairperson of the National Network for Older Persons, said the shillings 25,000 grant is a lifeline for many destitute older persons but noted it has remained unchanged for years. Orach highlighted that many older persons lack awareness of their pension rights.

Paul Onapa, the deputy head of the Expanding Social Protection programme at the ministry, said the absence of a legal framework limits social protection budgets.

Onapa noted that currently, 84% of persons aged 80 and above receive the pension, with many facing challenges such as lack of national IDs or improper registration details.

Onapa added that efforts are underway to bring payments closer to beneficiaries using bank accounts and mobile money platforms. Social security is a fundamental human right recognised in many international and regional human rights frameworks. However, Uganda and many African countries still face challenges in delivering adequate, inclusive, and rights-based pension systems. While Uganda’s SCG has expanded over the years, critical gaps remain in coverage, adequacy, and access.