Health 1 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Museveni Pledges Free Geriatric Care and Tailored PDM for Uganda's Elderly
President Museveni announced plans to introduce district-level geriatricians offering free medical support to older Ugandans and a specialized Parish Development Model program to enhance wealth creation and preservation among the elderly. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/museveni-pledges-free-medical-support-geriatrician-for-older-persons-5616452
President Yoweri Museveni has committed to enhancing medical support for Uganda’s aging population by proposing the recruitment of a geriatrician in every district. This initiative aims to provide free and consistent healthcare, addressing the significant burden of medical conditions and associated costs faced by older individuals.
Speaking at the International Day of Older Persons celebrations, Museveni also revealed plans for a tailored Parish Development Model (PDM) program specifically for the elderly. This program is designed to help older Ugandans create and maintain wealth. The implementation of this specialized PDM will follow the government’s financial commitments related to the African Cup of Nations (Afcon).
The PDM, which currently allocates funds to various groups including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and the elderly, is seen as a crucial tool for economic empowerment. The government aims to ensure that wealthier elderly individuals can preserve their assets, while those with fewer resources are supported through existing and upcoming programs.
Museveni also advised the elderly to adopt modern wealth preservation strategies, such as shareholding, rather than traditional methods of distributing assets among children. This advice comes as Uganda’s elderly population is rapidly growing, with projections indicating a significant increase in the coming decades, necessitating proactive social and economic support systems.
This initiative builds upon existing programs like the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE), which provides direct cash transfers to vulnerable citizens, with plans to increase the grant amount in the near future.