Tubakwerwa, 58, Uganda
Tubakwerwa, 58, received a loan from HelpAge’s partner in Uganda. She invested it in a market stall selling fruit and vegetables.
(c) Antonio Olmos/HelpAge International
Tubakwerwa, 58, received a loan from HelpAge's partner, Uganda Reach the Aged Association (URAA).
She invested it in a market stall selling fruit and vegetables.
The money she earns from this helps her to feed the seven grandchildren she cares for but as she gets older, her working life is getting harder and harder.
She says: "Before my husband died, I used to work on the farm, growing fruit and vegetables. The produce was just for feeding the family.
"My husband used to look after cows. When he died, it was up to me to do all the work. I now wake up at 6am and often don't get to bed until midnight.
"I care for seven grandchildren, who all go to school. I wake up to get them ready and make their lunch. Then I walk 2km to the market and work there until 8pm.
I have a family to feed
"Food prices are a big problem. I try very hard to give the children three meals a day, but it is not always possible. What I can afford is what we eat. Sometimes the children go hungry and complain, but there is nothing I can do.
"I think older people should always work, but it does get harder. I have back pains and I am losing my eyesight. What makes it worse is that I am so stressed about all the problems I have to deal with that I get migraines. When I go to the hospital they give me a few tablets but they don't help much.
"I don't get any help from anyone. Yes, I chose this work, but I didn't really have any other options, I have a family to feed."
In Uganda, most older people continue to work in the informal sector well beyond the official retirement age of 55.
Despite the fact older people are often the main breadwinner and carer in the family they are largely invisible in government policies and programmes.
Without any form of guaranteed pension, older Ugandans have no choice but to continue working into old age.
HelpAge International lobbies governments the world over to introduce pensions for older people and to include older people in decent work policy.
