Uganda, in her efforts to reduce poverty and vulnerability, has embarked on a transformative journey to strengthen the implementation of social protection and development initiatives. The unveiling of the National Social Protection Strategy signals a pivotal moment in Uganda’s pursuit of inclusive development and building resilience of vulnerable persons.
Developed through collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MGLSD) and various stakeholders, this strategy serves as a beacon of hope, offering a roadmap to address socio-economic disparities and foster a more inclusive society.
The Uganda National Social Protection Strategy emerged as a collective response to the country’s changing socio-economic realities. With poverty impacting a large proportion of the population and compounded by issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to strengthen social protection efforts has never been more pressing.
Statistics indicate that poverty rate stood at 20.3% in 2019/20. In absolute terms to 8.3 million people are poor. Based on the upper poverty line of $ 1.77 the poverty rate rises to 30.1%, representing 12.3 million poor persons in 2019/20. In spite of economic growth, it is evident that a significant proportion of people in Uganda still have a low quality of life, exacerbated by growing inequality. The strategy, which spans 2023–2028, therefore, emerges as a comprehensive framework for mitigating vulnerabilities and promoting inclusive development.
The strategy is based on a comprehensive collaborative process that included government agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, academia, and the commercial sector. It symbolizes a shared commitment to improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable. Drawing on previous anti-poverty projects and guided by lessons learned, it represents a forward-thinking approach to social protection investments.
It is a comprehensive framework built on two pillars: social security and social care and support services. These pillars encompass a wide range of actions targeted at alleviating financial instability and social hardship, demonstrating Uganda’s commitment to securing its citizens’ well-being and dignity.
Uganda’s pursuit of statutory social protection institutions dates back to the enactment of the Social Security Act in 1967. Since then, the landscape has evolved with the growth of cash transfer programs and the implementation of the National Social Protection Policy (2015). However, obstacles remain, including negative perceptions of social protection and the need to close the gap between official and traditional community-based institutions.
Embedded within Uganda’s constitutional provisions and national development frameworks, social protection enjoys a robust legal and policy foundation. The strategy leverages these frameworks to foster coherence and alignment in social protection interventions across diverse sectors and stakeholders, creating an enabling environment for transformative change.
As Uganda navigates the complexities of development, the successful implementation of the National Social Protection Strategy hinges on sustained political will, adequate resource allocation, and robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Furthermore, it necessitates continued collaboration and partnerships among government agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
Undoubtedly, Uganda faces numerous hurdles to increasing social protection, including fiscal restrictions, institutional capacity gaps, and socio-cultural barriers, among others. However, with patience and collaborative action, Uganda can overcome these challenges and fulfil the full potential of its social protection agenda. The Strategy reflects a strong commitment to social justice, equity, and human dignity.
By investing in its execution, Uganda establishes the framework for a future in which all citizens have security, opportunity, and prosperity. As the strategy evolves, it promises to improve lives and shape a more inclusive society for future generations. Uganda’s vision of a brighter and more equitable future may be realized through evidence-based approaches, multi-stakeholder participation, and policy consistency.
Five Year Strategic Priorities and Action (2024-2028)
| Objective1: To expand the scope and coverage of Social Security to address vulnerability across the life cycle. | |
| Life course Stage | Strategic Interventions |
| 0-5 years (Early Childhood) | Develop and gradually roll-out a Child Disability Grant Develop and gradually expand child sensitive SP programmes |
| 6-18 Years (School Going Age) | Develop and progressively expand coverage of School Feeding Programmes especially for highly vulnerable areas;Promote establishment and rollout of school garden models for school feeding.Expand the Girls Empowering Girls Urban Social Protection Programme to other cities |
| 19-31 Years (Youth) | Develop and roll-out LIPWs Programmes; (successor NUSAF, DRDIP, other Cash for Work Programmes)Mainstream LIPW programmes in sector development programmes Develop & Provide incentives for youth skilling Develop & roll out adult disability grant for PW Severe disabilities |
| 31-59 Years (Working Age) | Expand coverage of contributory social security to all persons in the formal sector Fast track the reform of Public Service Scheme to turn it into a contributory social security scheme for all civil servantsDevelop and implement strategy for Extending Social Security to the Informal SectorDesign and progressively implement a National Labour-Intensive Public Works Programme which provides income security to the poor and vulnerable households while enhancing their livelihoods. Advocate for bilateral and multi-lateral agreements on SP to allow for portability of SS benefits across the EAC; |
| 60 Years and above (Old Age | Progressively lower the eligibility age for accessing SCG from 80 years to at least 75 yearsDevelop Policy and legislation on age retirement |
| Cross-cutting across the lifecycle | Rollout a National Health Insurance Programme to enhance access to essential basic health services especially for all including low-income individuals and households.Document and progressively revive traditional social support systems to complement formal social protection services for the poor and vulnerable.Explore possibility for inclusion of refuges in accessing social protection services. |
| Objective 2: To Scale up the provision of holistic social care and support services to socio-culturally vulnerable individuals across the life cycle | |
| Implement the Operational Framework for Social Care and Support System and the Strategy for Strengthening the Social Service Workforce;.Expand provision of Integrated Early Childhood Development programmes Strengthen case management system on child abuse, neglect and exploitation;Provide support (livelihood, psychosocial, health, legal, etc.) to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and other forms of violenceExpand provision of rehabilitative and assistive devices for vulnerable persons especially persons with disabilitiesDevelop guidelines for waivers and incentives for persons with disabilities e.g. in accessing services like transport, employment opportunities etc. Promote community based response mechanisms for supporting vulnerable people | |
| Objective 3: To strengthen systems, policy, and institutional framework for the effective delivery of social protection services. | |
| Review the NSPP, consensus on enactment of a specific legislation for Social Assistance Upgrade and operationalise the NSR to include a Social Registry (2024), linkage to refugee databases ;Enhance interoperability of MIS’ for SP programmes to the NSR, NID systems and other administrative databases of government. Build capacity of key MDAs and LGs to design & Implement SP leveraging technology;Establish and Strengthen coordination mechanisms at national and local level Establish mechanisms to strengthen accountability, complaints and grievance mechanisms Develop harmonised guidance for key SP sub-systems, e.g. targeting, registration, payments, complaints and grievance, M&E, MIS and service delivery standards. | |
| Objective 4: Embedding shock-responsiveness & other emerging issues in all key social protection programmes and interventions. | |
| Strengthen the Policy, legal and institutional framework for SRSP: coherence btn DRM & SP; Shock response in SP policy & legal frameworks, LG plans; Strengthen design, operations and coordination: to ensure scalability in case of shocks, Coordination btn SP, Humanitarian actors & Disaster Risk Management, periodic risk & disaster assessments & triggers for timely response; social registry & linkages of all data bases; interoperable systems;Financing shock-responsive social protection: Establish a mechanism for financing for Shock response: fund, linkages to other international commitments like climate change financing, Establish guidance for proportion of funds for shock response, seek commitment of DPs | |
| Objective 5: Generating Evidence on the Effectiveness, Impact, and Efficiency of Social Protection Programmes; | |
| Routinely update the Investment Case for SP to document impacts as well as the cost of not investing in SP Develop a Business Case and Fiscal Space Analysis for the establishment of a other grants and SP interventions;Develop and coordinate implementation of a multi-stakeholder research agenda on impacts, effectiveness, and efficiency of social protection and build capacity for undertaking research;Develop models for linking conventional and traditional social protection approaches. Undertake routine comprehensive policy analysis, research and impact evaluation of the impact of social protection interventions in Uganda. | |
| Objective 6: Strengthening linkages between social protection and complementary services and livelihood enhancement interventions | |
| Establish formal institutional working relationships with institutions delivering complementary services such as health, education and agriculture; Improve access of poor households enrolled in existing SP programmes to complementary Financial inclusion programmes such as PDM, vocational training and skills development as well as other relevant livelihood enhancement opportunities Engage Equal Opportunities Commission on best practices for enhancing access and equity of complementary services Develop mechanisms to link SP mother and child gains using experiences and lessons learned from NutriCash by raising awareness of immunisation services among beneficiaries of NutriCash Working with NIRA, strengthen registration to enhance access Monitor and report on participation of vulnerable receipt households of SP services in financial inclusion interventions of government such as the Parish Development Model Engage relevant MDAs to ensure inclusion and enhance opportunities for children with disabilities in all spheres of life including education. | |
Beatrice Okillan, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator- Expanding Social Protection Programme, MGLSD