National Council for Older Persons Act

This section provides definitions (interpretation) of terms used in the Act, listing specific defined terms and their meanings.

Members of the national council and persons co‑opted to its meetings may be paid remuneration or allowances; the Minister responsible for gender, labour and social development may determine the rates in consultation with the Minister responsible for finance, planning and economic development.

Establishes the National Council for Older Persons and sets its corporate status and powers to sue or be sued, manage property, enter contracts, and perform acts lawful for a body corporate.

The seal of the national council is to be kept by the Executive Secretary and authenticated by signatures of the chairperson and Executive Secretary; documents issued with that seal and so authenticated are admissible in evidence without proof unless contradicted.

Sets out the objects (functions) of the national council, listing five core functions including coordinating between Government departments and older persons, providing a structure for free and fair elections of representatives of older persons at local government levels, setting standards and regulations for service quality to older persons, acting as an annual platform for review, and monitoring and evaluating stakeholders' delivery of programmes for older persons.

The national council must be composed of specified members including representatives of listed ministries, elected older persons, and appointed specialists; at least one third of members must be female and the council must elect a chairperson and vice chairperson with gender balance.

The national council has multiple duties including conducting surveys and investigations, communicating older persons' needs to government, monitoring inclusion by Government/NGOs/private sector, coordinating services, soliciting funds, advocating programmes, holding annual meetings, assisting the Electoral Commission with elections, and performing other Minister-determined functions.

Members and the Chairperson serve five-year terms (eligible for one reappointment); the Chairperson may resign by written notice to the Minister; the Minister has power to remove members or the Chairperson for specified causes or when a two‑thirds council resolution requests removal, with a medical-board certification required before removal for infirmity.

The national council may establish committees and may delegate any of its functions to those committees subject to conditions it determines.

The national council may prescribe the procedure of its committees.

The national council must have a secretariat headed by the Executive Secretary.

Establishes the Executive Secretary post: appointed by the Minister on the advice of the national council; holds office for five years full‑time subject to renewal; may resign with written notice; Minister may remove for misbehavior, incompetence or infirmity but infirmity removals require Medical Board certification; terms, remuneration and pensions set by the national council with Ministerial approval and consultation.

The Executive Secretary must act as the national council's Chief Executive and accounting officer, serve as secretary at council meetings and keep minutes, control staff and implement council decisions, and perform other functions assigned by the council; in the Executive Secretary's absence the national council may designate the next senior officer to act as Executive Secretary.

The national council must employ staff and determine their terms (subject to Ministerial approval), may engage and pay experts, and must pay and provide retirement benefits to staff (after consultation with Ministers).

There shall be a district or city council for older persons in every district or city.

A district or city council for older persons must be composed of specified members (including five older persons with at least two older women, ex‑officio members, NGO representative, and an appointee by the District Chairperson) and must elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from among its members, considering gender balance.

Lists the functions of the district or city council for older persons, including coordinating and monitoring policies and programmes, promoting service integration, advocating national policies, submitting biannual reports, inquiring into rights violations and recommending action, and performing other functions to enhance older persons' well-being.

District or city councils for older persons must have a Secretariat to support the council's functions and operations; the District Community Development Officer must provide that secretariat.

Every municipality, city division, town or subcounty must have a council for older persons.

A municipal, city division, town or subcounty council for older persons must be composed of specified members; the council must elect a chairperson and vice chairperson with regard to gender balance; the Community Development Officer shall provide the Secretariat.

Municipal, city division, subcounty or town councils for older persons must carry out specified functions including coordinating and monitoring policies, promoting service integration in local plans, advocating national policy implementation, submitting biannual reports, investigating violations of older persons' rights and recommending action, and performing other functions to enhance older persons' well‑being.

Members of the municipal, city division, subcounty or town council for older persons, and persons co-opted to council meetings, may be paid remuneration or allowances at rates the municipality, city division, subcounty or town council determines under local government financial regulations.

A council for municipality, city division, subcounty or town council for older persons must meet at least once every three months and must determine the procedure at its meetings.

There shall be a council for older persons at every parish or ward and village.

Specifies composition and election rules for parish/ward and village councils for older persons, member term length, and eligibility for one re-appointment.

Parish/ward and village councils for older persons must perform local functions including advising local councils, mobilizing participation, advocating rights, monitoring services, and carrying out tasks assigned by higher councils.

The executive committee of older persons at parish, ward and village level shall oversee council decisions and perform listed functions including advocacy, income‑generating projects, communication, monitoring and planning, and at village level collect data on older persons.

Elections of representatives of older persons must use the electoral structure in the Second Schedule; the Electoral Commission must facilitate formation of electoral colleges and appoint returning and presiding officers; an older person meeting national standards has the right to contest representative elective office.

Under the multi-party political system, nomination of candidates for older persons may be made by a political organisation, a political party sponsoring a candidate, or by an independent candidate.

The national council's funds include sums from the Consolidated Fund, monies accruing in discharge of its functions, and grants, gifts and donations from any source; income must be deposited to the council's credit in a bank approved by the Minister or relevant local government chairperson and cannot be withdrawn except with the council's approval and in the manner it determines.

The national council may borrow (with the Minister's prior approval and consultation with the finance Minister) and may mortgage council assets for that borrowing; for local governments approvals must be given by specified local chairs under Local Government Financial Regulations.

The national council must prepare and submit its income and expenditure estimates for the next financial year to the Minister responsible for finance within three months before the end of each financial year; for local governments, budget estimates must be approved by the district council and the subcounty or town local council.

The national council must use the same financial year as the Government of Uganda.

The national council must prepare an annual report on its performance and the councils must keep proper books and records in a form approved by the Auditor General or an auditor appointed by the Auditor General.

The accounts of the national council must be audited each financial year by the Auditor General or an auditor appointed by the Auditor General; the national council must submit a statement of accounts to the Auditor General within four months after each financial year; the Auditor General must audit and, within two months of receiving the statement, submit audited accounts and a report to the councils and specified officials; the Auditor General and appointed auditors are entitled to access financial records and information.

Funds of the national council not immediately required must be invested by the councils, subject to required approvals and consultation.

The Minister may, by statutory instrument, make regulations to give full effect to the provisions of this Act.

Members of the national council and staff members are exempt from liability for acts or omissions done in good faith while performing their functions under the Act.