National Network
for Older Persons
of Uganda
National Network
for Older Persons
of Uganda
Several NNOPU member organizations have conducted needs assessments. The following issues have been consistently highlighted across the country.
There is no social security system in Uganda. Older persons who can no longer work in the fields to produce their own food often go hungry. Poverty also means that many older people have inadequate housing and clothing.
Uganda has been devastated by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with many older persons having cared for their own dying adult children. These older persons have then become responsible for the care of their orphaned grandchildren. Many older Ugandans care for 10 or more orphans. While they willingly perform this role, caring for large numbers of children creates an enormous financial burden and exacerbates the poverty in which so many older Ugandans live.
Older Ugandans suffer from the dual burden of infectious diseases, like malaria, and degenerative diseases, like stroke. The prevalence of diabetes and high blood pressure is high. A lifetime of hard physical work means that back pain and arthritis are both very common. Unfortunately, the health system in Uganda is inadequate to deal with the health problems of older people. Older people are often actively discouraged from attending health care facilities by health care staff who feel that treating an older person is a waste of time.
As in many African countries, land ownership is often uncertain in Uganda. This is particularly problematic for older Ugandans, who tend to have large numbers of children and grandchildren wanting land. The problem is even worse for widows because land is owned by men. At the extreme, an older woman might even be accused of being a witch and killed so that younger people can take over her land.
Ugandans, such as teachers and civil servants, who have worked for the government are entitled to a small aged pension. The process for accessing the pension is unnecessarily complex and it can take years to negotiate. Many older Ugandans simply give up.