The Special Enterprise Grant for Older Persons (SEGOP) is a Government of Uganda initiative aimed at improving older persons access to sustainable livelihoods. SEGOP is designed to address the existing gaps in interventions to manage shocks among older persons aged 60 - 79 years. The Programme will not only contribute to reduction of dependence but also increase older persons’ participation in the money economy.

Justification for the Special Enterprise Grant for Older Persons

The SEGOP programme is premised on the fact that:

a) The Sustainable Development Goals implore countries to develop initiatives and take action to improve on the welfare of vulnerable persons. This is in line with the SDGs principle of leaving no one behind;

b) The Third National Development Plan (NDP III) under the Human Capital Development Programme implores Government to design and implement an enterprise fund to enhance the livelihoods of older persons. The Grant therefore supports Government efforts in realising its development agenda. To this end, the Grant will contribute in bridging the gap not addressed by existing Government programmes.

Target Beneficiaries

The target beneficiaries of the Programme are older persons aged 60 to 79 years.

Targeting Criteria and Eligibility

The targeting criteria will involve a combination of approaches. The beneficiaries should:

1. Be Ugandan citizens aged 60 – 79 years;

2. All members of the group Must have a National Identity Card or NIN authenticated by NIRA;

3. Belong to a registered group at sub county of between 5 to 10 older persons (members);

4. A group should have a physical address/ location;

5. a) Priority will be given to groups which are not benefiting from any other government social protection programme (SAGE, and NSG-PWDs);

  b) Not withstanding 5(a) above, a maximum of 20% Pensioners who permanently reside in the area can be co-opted as group members for effective mentorship and record keeping of the Group.

6. Members of a group should be in close proximity (homestead, village, parish and maximum at sub-County) and the membership to a group is voluntary;

7. A group should have a Bank account;

8. A Group application form, fully filed and stamped by the Chairperson LC 1;

9. Must have filled the provided template on identification, planning for the Enterprise and group formulation and;

10. Evidence that the Enterprise selected has undergone all the required stages for enterprise generation as provided for in the guidelines issued by the Ministry. The stages include appraisal and approval by the Sub-County and Local Governments respectively.

Programme Components

SEGOP has two (2) Components namely:

1. Direct transfers to Older Persons’ Groups and;

2. Institutional Support.

Direct Transfers to Older Persons’ Groups

1. This will constitute 80% of the total allocation of the grant and will finance older persons’ business ventures;

2. Disbursement to older persons’ groups will be on first come first serve basis and /or use of indicative planning figures which will be developed every Financial Year by the Planning Division of the Ministry.

3. Despite these parameters, the grant is demand driven and older persons will be equitably encouraged to express interest to participate in the programme.

4. Prior to receipt of the grants under this component, potential beneficiaries will receive basic training in financial literacy, enterprise selection and management training;

5. A group shall be eligible to re-apply for a grant in a group after three years upon receipt of the last grant and assessment by the CDOs and;

Institutional Support

1. This will constitute 20% of the total allocation of the grant and will finance institutional arrangements of the SEGOP. These include: technical, administrative and managerial activities of key implementers of the Programme at national and local government level;

2. As part of institutional support, the following activities will be undertaken: beneficiary identification, verification, support supervision, Monitoring and evaluation and;

3. To enhance innovation and life-long learning for older persons, the Ministry will set up the training and learning centre to establish an innovation and training hub for enterprise development in an established Ministry Institution for Older Persons.

Project Grants

This refers to the funds that will be used to finance approved older persons’ groups under the Grants Component. Funds provided will cover the cost of inputs and other project specific activities.

• Each older persons’ group project will be financed to a maximum of UGX

5million.

• Homes for older persons are eligible for financing of up-to Ugx 10 million.

Feasible Projects to be Funded Under the Grant

Enterprises recommended for funding fall under two main categories, Agriculture production and off- farm activities. These include but not limited to the following:

Agricultural production Off-farm ventures

• Dairy production

• High value enterprises (12 agricultural enterprises in the

NDP III: Cotton, Coffee, Tea, Maize, Rice, Cassava, Beans,

Fish, Beef, Milk, Citrus and Bananas)

• Horticultural Production

• Poultry/ egg production

• Piggery

• Goat raring

• Aquaculture/integrate farming

• Labour-saving technologies e.g. animal traction

• Tree nursery management.

• Apiary – honey production

• Agro- forestry/ tree propagation

• Post-harvest handling e.g. milling and packaging

• Value addition & marketing

Off-farm ventures

• Produce buying and selling

• Trading

• Craft making

• Water supply

• Carpentry and joinery

• Hair dressing and cosmetology

• Tailoring/ fashion and design

• Metal fabrication

• Bicycle repair

• Food production, catering & restaurant management

• Shoe making/ repair

• Agro- processing

• Bakery/cookery

• Herbal medicine

• Electrical repairs

• Borehole making and repair

• Weaving and embroidery& handicrafts

• Transport Services

• Clay moulding/pottery/energy saving technology

• Tourism or Cultural heritage (theatre, art and craft, and music)

• Home support and cleaning services;

• Laundry services;

• Small scale businesses, cottage industries, financial activities, transport ,among others 

 

NO	BENEFITING GROUPS IN MARACHA DISTRICT	FY
1	MIRIDRI NYAWUKE OLDER PERSONS	2023/2024
2	MUNGUFENI GROUP	2023/2024
3	ALIO ONZI ELDERS GROUP	2023/2024
4	ALIKUA PYRAMIDOLDER PERSONS GROUP	2023/2024
5	MUNGUNIRA OLDER PERSONS	2023/2024