Suruma advocates for oil revenue investment in elderly social protection
Former Finance Minister and Makerere University Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma, is advising the government to channel part of the country’s oil revenues into social protection, especially for older persons, who he argues are at a higher risk of falling into poverty.
He cites countries such as Norway and Libya, which invested part of their oil money into the welfare of their citizens.
A UBOS report shows that, despite government interventions through programs such as the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) and retirement benefits like pension schemes, over 70% of Uganda’s workforce lacks social protection, leaving many elderly individuals in poverty after retirement.