By Our Reporter
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, has arraigned Naluyima Josephine, a marketing officer at Centenary Bank in Tororo, before the Chief Magistrate’s Court on charges of Theft and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony.
Naluyima was formally charged and subsequently remanded until April 16, 2025, as investigations into the case continue. Her arrest and arraignment follow earlier charges brought against Asangai David, the Tororo District Community Development Officer, who faces the same charges.
According to authorities, between September and October 2023, Naluyima, Asangai, and other individuals still at large, allegedly conspired to steal millions of Ugandan Shillings earmarked for elderly beneficiaries under the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) program. The theft reportedly took place across various sub-counties in Tororo and Busia districts.
The SAGE program is a government initiative aimed at supporting the elderly population in Uganda through monthly cash transfers. Misappropriation of these funds deprives some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens of essential support.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit has reiterated its commitment to pursuing all individuals involved in the mismanagement and theft of public funds. Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests may follow as authorities close in on others implicated in the scheme.
About SAGE
SAGE Funds—formally known as the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment—are a social protection initiative by the Government of Uganda aimed at supporting older persons through regular, direct cash transfers. Launched under the broader Expanding Social Protection (ESP) program, the SAGE scheme seeks to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable elderly citizens, particularly those aged 80 and above, by providing a predictable income to help meet their basic needs such as food, healthcare, and shelter.
By transferring UGX 25,000 monthly to each eligible beneficiary, the government hopes to reduce poverty and prevent further vulnerability among older adults who often lack formal pensions or reliable support systems.
Despite its positive impact, the SAGE program has faced several challenges, including delayed payments, funding constraints, and difficulties in reaching eligible recipients due to administrative or logistical barriers. Nonetheless, the government, in collaboration with development partners like DFID and Irish Aid, continues to strengthen and scale up the program to achieve broader social protection goals and ensure that Uganda’s aging population is not left behind.
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