Mr. President, 
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates, 
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of H.E. the President of the Republic of Uganda and indeed on the behalf of all Ugandans, I am glad to join you in this 2nd World Assembly on Ageing.

This is more so because the situation and proportion of our population in the world and most especially in Africa in the category of the Elderly is very significant. 

The demographic profile of the world in general is changing. The 21st century is witnessing unprecedented transition from a state of high birth rate and death rates to one characterized by low fertility and low mortality.

Already the majority of the world's older persons (61%) live in developing countries, a proportion that will rise to nearly 70% by 2025. The number of Africans aged 60 and above will have grown from 22.9 million in 1980 to 101.9 million in 2025. (Source: Demographic indicators of countries. Estimated projections as assessed in 1980).

The United Nations estimates reveal that the world population of older persons which was just 200 million in 1950, increased to 600 million in 1999. This is projected to shoot to an unprecedented 2 billion in 2050, thanks to the remarkable advances that have been made in the field of medicine, nutrition and the general standard of living across the globe. Africa, currently with an estimated 38 million elderly will shoot to 212 million in 2050 despite the chronic poverty and deadly effects of HIV/AIDS. At that time, one in every three people will be aged 60 years and above (source: Tavengwa, M,Nhongo in; "Forward" to: Training Manual on Ageing in Africa.)

The myth that older persons do not exist in Africa because life expectancy is low is simply not true; the fact is that those who survive diseases of infancy and childhood have a good chance of becoming grandparents.

Justification for Policy on the Elderly in Less Developed Countries

Mr. President,

Unlike our friends from the developed nations who have already institutionalized mechanisms and support systems for the older persons, the case for the third world countries specifically from Africa warrants urgent measures to cater for the aged. This is made more apparent in the African context due to a number of factors that relegate the older persons into dire vulnerability, for instance:

- The family as a nucleus of society has the fundamental responsibility of providing the necessary social and moral support to all individuals that belong to it. However, the social-economic changes that have taken place have weakened the ability of the family to undertake its due responsibility to the disadvantage of older persons in society. 

Presently, we have abandoned elderly persons who are homeless and have no caretakers. The would be caretakers, that is their children have neglected them therefore denying them access to family social support.

- The social problem of HIV/AIDS is greatly affecting older persons. They are expected to look after the sick and later when the sick pass away, they assume the responsibility of looking after the orphans. In addressing the HIV/AIDS challenge, Governments have not focused their attention on how older persons should manage the responsibility of caring for the sick as well as empowering them to look after the off springs. Current awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS target the youth and middle-aged excluding older persons.

- Poverty eradication programmes have equally not focused on older persons to the extent that the elderly are unable to meet their own needs as well as those of their grand children. This in many cases is compounded by the fact that many of the micro-finance lending institutions are reluctant to extend to older persons unless if they have strong collateral security.

- Old age is associated with a number of health problems, e.g. high blood pressure, sexual and reproductive ill-health, mental health and so on. Health policies in most developing countries are insensitive to the health needs of older persons. The concept of cost sharing in service provision as it is in most developing economies disadvantages older persons. 

Much as good health is a right to an individual, older persons have been excluded from accessing health services hence denied the right to good health, especially the poor who are unable to meet health costs.

- With restructuring in economies in the present Global world, there is no right to employment, and older persons are the victims of this process. As much as the job opportunities in the public sector have been reduced, the age limit for public servants has also been set and bars everybody who is in the age bracket of being old. This has greatly undermined the chances of older persons to access employment, even retirees from public service are equally not well protected.

- The current social security programmes are inadequate to meet the social needs of older persons from the formal sector. Older persons in the private and informal sector are worse off and find it even harder to fulfill their social and economic welfare needs since they do not access any meaningful social welfare interventions.

- Older persons in most developing nations have been excluded from active political representation. 

- The contributions, rights needs of elderly are consistently overlooked by the society. Negative attitudes combined with assumptions about care and support structures have resulted in the elderly becoming one of the most vulnerable sections of the society. The elderly are often perceived as perceive, recipient of care but in reality most elderly people continue working and making significant contributions to the family and the community. 

- At present information about the situation of the elderly is limited and service provision is minimal.

- With the spread of urbanization much of the young generation move to urban areas leaving the older people in rural areas without support, for example, lack of proper shelter, poor diet, lack of medical care and lack of clothing.

The Case of Uganda and Older Persons 

Mr. President,

The last Population and Housing census report of 1991 put the number of people aged 60 and above at 4.11% (628,260 ) of the then 16,671,705 population. According to the population projections, the number is of the aged is expected to increase.

The Government of Uganda has therefore come out to recognize and appreciate the predicament of the elderly and is doing it's best to ensure that they are catered for as well as any other segment of the population. 

Hence, there are both institutional and collaborative measures being under taken as exemplified below:

- The rights of older persons are guaranteed in the 1995 constitution under Article 32 which states: "Notwithstanding anything in this constitution, the State shall take affirmative action in favour of groups who are marginalized on the basis of gender, age, disability and any other reason created by history, tradition or custom, for purpose of redressing imbalances which exist against them."

- In order to meet it's constitutional obligation, the Government consequently appointed the Minister of State responsible for Elderly and Disability Affairs within the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, to address the needs and welfare of the elderly.

- In the same vein, the Minister of State responsible for Pensions was appointed within the Ministry of Public Service to spearhead the review of the pensions scheme for the betterment of the lives of pensioners. Such review has for instance increased the retirement age from 55 to 60 years.

- The Local Government Act of 1997 has been revised and Article 13 section 25 sub section 6 caters for representation of elderly persons by two people; a male and a female aged 55 years and above at all lower local government councils.

- Government religiously commemorates the International Day for Older Persons (1st October ) in fulfillment of the UN Resolution of 1982 in Vienna. The purpose of this is to sensitize the public about the rights of elderly people.

- In order to cater for the interests of older people in a more systematic and sustainable manner, the government has drafted a National Policy on the Elderly and a National Plan of Action.

- In this pursuit, Government recognizes the need for a unified course of action with fellow African States and other stakeholders. In view of this, Uganda hosted the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) meeting on the Ageing and Aged in December 2001.

- With support of WHO, research is being undertaken to ascertain the health needs of the elderly.

- Government is closely collaborating with the Advocacy and Lobby groups or associations of elderly persons themselves with a view of involving them as much as possible.

- The efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO), HelpAge International, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Department for International Development Agency (DFID) among others are applauded for enabling the process towards realizing older persons` rights. 

The Way forward

In a bid to improve the quality of life of our elderly people, it would be advisable that among other measures, the following be put into consideration:

i. Policies should seek to embrace employment, health and social concerns as critical issues affecting older persons in society.
ii. Research on issues of older persons should form the basis for the development of policy.
iii. Awareness raising campaigns aimed at fully understanding ageing issues should be emphasized.
iv. There is an urgent need to have a broad housing policy to embrace housing needs of older persons.
v. There should be a deliberate attempt to include issues and programmes on ageing in school curriculum to help the young generation learn about ageing issues and its effects and be able to provide the necessary support to older persons where possible.
vi. A saving scheme which cuts across all people both in formal and informal sectors should be instituted. Accessing such a scheme must be friendly to cater for old age, sickness or loss of jobs.
vii. Community Based Care Centres / services need to be established with proper policy guidelines regarding the care offered for the elderly with no caretakers.
viii. Governments should find necessary financial resources to cater for the elderly on continuous basis so that they are facilitated individually and collectively in order to promote active ageing.
ix. Geriatric and social gerontology studies should be introduced in higher institutions of learning to avail the required manpower to handle health needs for older persons. Special clinics and days should be established by health and social workers on which the elderly can be treated and managed.
x. Older persons should be encouraged to come together in civic groups/ associations to advocate for their rights.
xi. Home based health service delivery that is to say, home visits and integrated out-reach clinics targeting older persons should be introduced.
xii. Governments should provide the enabling environment to revive the effective operation of institutions of family kinship, social values and norms. These are the basis of the Community Based Framework that could promote care and protection of the elderly.
xiii. Governments should provide a conducive environment through which private saving schemes should be encouraged to operate and support needs of older persons.
xiv. There should be a deliberate move to educate older persons on their needs, rights and how they can be addressed and accessed.
xv. Community Based Organisations (CBOs),and NGOs should be encouraged to lobby for service delivery to older persons.
xvi. Pre-retirement preparation for old age should be encouraged.
xvii. Deliberate efforts and interventions should be instituted to address the challenges that older persons with disabilities face.

Conclusion

Mr. President,

It should be noted that the needs of each individual are of equal importance and these must be made the basis of planning for societies. It is our challenge to change the image of the elderly and allow them to participate in all aspects of societal activities. The recommended policy framework should focus on integration of older persons in developmental activities within the communities in which they live.

It is our hope that the world will guarantee the ability of older persons to live in dignity, thus enabling subsequent generations to appreciate the broad spectrum of their wisdom. Attitudes, policies and practices must change for the better if the enormous potential of older persons is to be realized and harnessed.

Thank You Mr. President.