the payment service provider who will
be issuing the actual cash. There have
been three different payment providers
responsible for distributing the SCG. In
the first phase, payments were provided
by mobile telecom company, MTN,
using its mobile money service.107 In
2015, a new payment provider contract
was awarded to PostBank.108 Postbank
is a public bank under the authority of
the government of Uganda and uses
vans as mobile payment points for
SAGE beneficiaries. In 2020, a third
Figure 16 Elderly gather at the PostBank distribution van in Namayingo.
party, Centenary Bank, won the bid to
provide the SCG payments after the end
of PostBank’s contract in March 2021. Centenary Bank is a commercial bank and will plan
to use their existing network of bank agents and branches to distribute payments.109
During our research, we witnessed the transition to Centenary Bank happening at
various payment points. In addition to the usual payment day set up of SCG staff enrolling
and verifying older persons, as well as a separate payment table, there was now also
an additional table staffed by Centenary Bank personnel. In Bugiri, one of the officials
emphasized to everyone the importance of this table, saying, “if you get money and leave,
you are done for…because at the other table (Centenary Bank), they are still registering you.”
Those who were already registered in the programme had previously received
yellow slips that had their national ID number written on them which they used to claim
their payments from PostBank. Unaware of the new payment service provider, we witnessed
beneficiaries leaving with their cash transfer but failing to register with Centenary Bank,
which meant they would not be able to access their money. In our focus groups, many
reported that they were confused by yet another change of payment provider. One older
woman told us: “We don’t know why we were opening bank accounts and pictures were taken.
Figure 17. A beneficiary being registered with Centenary Bank.
46
Chased Away and Left to Die
We just know Centenary Bank had
come.”
Since Centenary Bank
needed to set up new bank
accounts for each older person
receiving cash transfers, the
transition day required all
beneficiaries to also present
their national ID card, provide
personal information to a
Centenary Bank official, have
their biographic details captured
on a tablet, and have their
photo captured. Fingerprints
are recorded directly onto the