President Yoweri Museveni has drawn a line in the sand, demanding ironclad criminal laws to cage manipulative, “prodigal” children who circle their aging parents like vultures to steal land, shatter inheritances, and cast them into neglect.
Blasting greedy relatives during the International Day of Older Persons virtual celebrations at State House Entebbe, Museveni made it clear: the state will no longer watch the nation’s 2.3 million seniors get fleeced by ungrateful youth.
Museveni warned that generational warfare is destroying the bedrock of Ugandan society. He commanded that state backing must ruthlessly enforce three sacred pillars for every omugurusi or omukakikuru (elder):family protection, wealth preservation and home defense.
According to the President this entails zero tolerance for abuse, forcing mutual respect, and treating neglect as a betrayal, fierce warning to elders to stop fragmenting family land among unruly broods—urging them to lock assets into modern shares and wealth setups instead of letting greedy hands tear families apart and lastly absolute security to maintain decent traditional or modern housing.
Decrying offspring who act like the biblical prodigal son—manipulating wills and stripping elders of their dignity—Museveni insisted tradition is no longer enough. The state must legislate protection.
“We should actually make a law because in our tradition elders should be protected from these children who disrespect them and try to distort inheritance,” Museveni roared.
While admitting elders must learn to consult the youth, he emphasized that thieving, disrespectful kids deserve the full wrath of legal frameworks.
On Health, Muscle, and Money,Museveni didn’t just talk tough; he deployed a battle plan of Geriatric Doctors funding scholarships to forge specialized geriatricians, planting at least one elite elder-care doctor in every single district.
On Daily Combat Against Decay Museveni launched the Daily Exercises Chart for Older Persons—proving his own push-up and running regime by demanding seniors keep their bones and bodies battle-ready.
Bulldozing scared parish chiefs who tried to block elders from the Parish Development Model (PDM). Museveni commanded that seniors get funds for low-strain projects like goat rearing, declaring that if an elder fails to repay, “there is no problem” as long as the cash isn’t wasted.
National Council for Older Persons Chairperson Ann Muhindo pushed to drop the SAGE eligibility age from 80 down to 65 while juicing the monthly stipend to Shs35,000, while officials like Hon. Jacqueline Mbabazi reminded the nation that over 1.6 million elders remain active, defiant household breadwinners who refuse to be treated as burdens.
Museveni, who revealed he stays fit by running and doing push-ups, officially launched the Daily Exercises Chart for Older Persons to help seniors maintain bone density and overall health.
The chart contains simple, age-appropriate exercises that older persons can undertake individually or in groups. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to promote healthy and dignified ageing in Uganda.
Museveni heavily defended the inclusion of elders in the Parish Development Model (PDM), ordering parish chiefs to disburse funds to them for low-strain projects like goat rearing, dismissing fears that seniors fail to pay back.
ICT Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba praised Museveni’s inclusion of older persons in leadership and noted that government health policies have significantly boosted life expectancy.
Hon. Jacqueline Mbabazi debunked the myth that elders are burdens, revealing that over 1.6 million older persons in Uganda are active household breadwinners.
Irish Ambassador H.E. Mags Gaynor praised Ugandan elders as custodians of culture and called for predictable, uninterrupted social protection funds, pledging Ireland’s continued support.
The International Day of Older Persons was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1990 to promote understanding, respect and support for ageing populations. Uganda started commemorating the day in 1999.
