92-year-old Zewulence Namulondo, a resident of Nawandala village in Nawandala sub-county, Iganga district, has faced a distressing ordeal, enduring 15 months without receiving funds from the Social Assistance Grant for the Elderly program (SAGE) due to an erroneous declaration of her death early last year.
Namulondo, who resides approximately five kilometers away from the distribution center in Nawandala sub-county, became aware of the error in February of last year when SAGE teams were disbursing payments of Shillings 75,000 in April. Despite assurances to rectify the situation and settle her outstanding arrears amounting to Shillings 225,000, Namulondo was dismayed when, in December, funds were disbursed for nine months, yet she remained excluded due to the system’s persistence in confirming her demise.
Further exacerbating her plight, Namulondo continues to be denied funds for January, February, and March 2024, as the SAGE system persists in erroneously affirming her death. Despite the efforts of SAGE teams to correct the error by capturing her photographs, recording her national identification number, and obtaining her fingerprints, Namulondo remains unable to access essential funds for medication and daily necessities.
With five grandchildren under her care, Namulondo heavily relies on SAGE funds not only for medical expenses but also to procure essential items such as soap, sugar, and vegetables. Despite concerted attempts to engage stakeholders responsible for overseeing the SAGE program, including the resident district commissioner, little progress has been made in resolving her case.
David Mutogeera, the LC II chairperson of Bugongo parish tasked with supervising the SAGE program, suspects foul play, given Namulondo’s consistent status as a beneficiary since the program’s inception in 2016. He questions how she could be declared deceased without his knowledge, as he routinely provides updates to district authorities on the welfare of beneficiaries.
“I conduct monthly visits to all SAGE beneficiaries and consistently update district authorities on their well-being. It raises suspicion as to how someone else could declare Namulondo deceased without my input, considering I furnish them with monthly updates on these elderly individuals,” he remarks.
An unnamed official involved in the SAGE program in Iganga district acknowledged the persistent nature of the issue, despite efforts to rectify the system at central servers. Wandera Sadala, the Iganga RDC, assured that Namulondo’s case had been escalated to the district SAGE focal person for resolution, pledging to expedite the process for a swift resolution.
“I am cognizant of this matter, and I am committed to pursuing its resolution to its logical conclusion within the shortest timeframe possible,” he asserts. The SAGE program issues funds in sequences of three, six, or nine months, aiming to empower elderly individuals to effectively plan and procure necessities, recognizing that the monthly stipend of 25,000 Shillings may fall short of meeting their needs.
