By Our Reporter
MBALE
Government through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has launched a special enterprise grant for older persons (SEGOP).
SEGOP was launched in Mbale City on Friday 17th February, 2023 by the State Minister for the Elderly, Hon Dominic Mafwabi Gidudu where District Chairpersons for the Older persons in Eastern Uganda, Karamoja and Sebei regions attended.
SEGOP is aimed at bridging the gap between Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) that caters for persons above 80 years, Pension Scheme, Emyooga and Operation Wealth Creation.
According to the Minister, SEGOP is meant to cater for Older persons above 60 years but below 79 who are still active but have been left out by SAGE.
In the FY2023/24 government has released Shs5Billion that according to Minister Gidudu will be shared in all the 5 regions that make up Uganda with each district having three benefitting SACCOS. Each SACCO will receive Shs5Million.
HOW TO ACCESS THE GRANT
Persons between 60 t0 79 who are Ugandans must form a SACCO of a minimum of 5 up to 10 Members.
All members of the group (SACCO) must have National Identity Cards or NIN’s authenticated by NIRA.
Beneficiaries will be those that are not benefitting from other government social protection programmes such as SAGE and National Social Grant for Persons with Disabilities.
Members should be living near each other with the longest distance being a Sub County. Preferably, members should come from the same village or parish.
A group must then have a bank account, then a Group application form that is fully filled and stamped by the area LC1 Chairperson. These forms have been given out to Community Development Officers and are to be given out for free.
Finally, there should be evidence that the Enterprise selected has undergone all the required stages for enterprise generation as provided for in the guidelines issued by the Ministry.
Recommended Enterprises for funding under SEGOP are; Dairy production, High values crops such as Cotton, Coffee, Tea, Maize, Rice, Cassava, Beans, Fish, Beef, Milk, Citrus and Bananas.
Others are; Horticultural production, poultry, piggery, goat rearing, Aquaculture, tree nursery management, Apiary, Agroforestry, post-harvest handling, value addition and marketing and labour saving technologies e.g animal traction.
The off farm enterprises that may be funded are; produce buying and selling, trading, craft making, water supply, carpentry and joinery.
Others are; Hair dressing and cosmetology, Tailoring, fashion and design, metal fabrication, bicycle repair, food production, catering and restaurant.
The enterprises also include; shoe making/repair, agro processing, bakery/cookery, herbal medicine, laundry services, clay molding/pottery, and energy saving technology and home support and cleaning services.
